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A    REPORT 


Record  Commissioners 


CITY    OF    BOSTON, 


CONTAINING    THE 


BOSTON  TOWN  RECORDS,  1758  TO  1769. 


BOSTON: 
ROCKWELL    AND    CHURCHILL,    CITY    PRINTERS, 

No.    39    ARCH    STREET. 

1886. 


f  73  .  / 

.b  7i 


277945 


[Document  88—1886.] 


city  of  wmm  BOSTON. 


A  EEPOET 


RECORD  COMMISSIONERS. 


The  present,  the  Sixteenth  Report  of  the  Record  Commis- 
sioners, contains  the  proceedings  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
from  A.D.  1758  through  1769.  Of  the  special  topics  con- 
sidered during  that  period  in  town  meetings,  we  may  note 
the  following :  Schools,  Inns,  Faneuil-Hall  Market,  the  Fire 
of  1760,  Inoculation,  Long  Wharf,  and  Beacon  Hill.  A 
project  to  establish  Hancock's  Hospital,  and  another  to  pre- 
pare a  list  of  great  benefactors  of  the  town,  were  approved, 
but  came  to  naught.  The  great  feature  of  these  meetings 
—  one  which  will  make  this  volume  of  lasting  value  —  is  the 
political  action  of  the  town  during  this  exciting  period,  when 
its  representatives  were  Otis,  Cushing,  Hancock,  and  Adams. 
The  votes  of  the  town  were  public  matters,  whose  influence 
reached  throughout  the  Colonies.  Herein  will  be  seen  the 
beginnings  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  steps  by  which  our 
ancestors  arrived  at  political  freedom. 

For  the  Record  Commissioners, 

William  H.   Whitmore. 

City  Hall,  Boston,  Dec.  31,  1886. 


BOSTON  TOWN  RECORDS. 


[VOL.   IV.   OF  THE   ORIGINAL  BOOKS.] 


[408J.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualify'd  and  Warned  in 
Public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil-Hall  on  Monday  the 
13th.  day  of  March  AD  1758. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Mr.  Sam1.  Checldey  Sr. 
The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting.     Read. 
Sundry  Laws.     Read. 

John  Phillips  Esqr.  was  chose  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  and 
took  the  Oath  respecting  his  paying  &  l'eceiving  Bills  of  Credit  of 
the  Governments  of  Connecticut  New-Hampshire  and  Rhode 
Island,  as  required  by  the  Act  of  the  Province. 

Ezekiel  Goldthwait  was  Chose  Town  Clerk  for  the  Year  ensuing, 
and  having  taken  the  Oath  required  by  the  Act  of  the  Province, 
relating  to  his  paying  and  receiving  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other 
Governments,  took  the  Oath  of  Office  which  were  administred  by 
John  Phillips  Esqr. 

Sundry  Petitions.     Read. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  Choice  of  seven  Selectmen  &  the 
Votes  brought  in  &  Sorted,  it  appeared  that, 
Samuel  Grant  Esqr. 
Mr.  Thomas  Hill 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esqr. 
Joseph  Jackson  Esqr. 
Mr.  Thomas  Cushing 
Mr.  Samuel  Hewes 
Mr.  John  Scollay 
were  unanimously  chose,  &  Samuel  Grant  Esqr.  &  Mr.  Thomas 
Hill    desired  to   be  excused ;  the   other  Gentlemen  [409.]  Ac- 
cepted  and   took   the   Oath   required   by    Law,    respecting   their 
receiving  and  paying  Bills  of  the  other  Governments. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  12  Overseers  of  the  Poor 
and  being  Sorted,  it  appear'd  that, 

The  Hon0.  Andrew  Oliver  Esqr. 
John  Phillips  Esqr. 
Mr.  Isaac  Walker 
Ebenezer  Storer  Esqr. 
Mr.  John  Barrett 
Mr.  John  Tudor 
Mr.  Royall  Tyler 


2 


City  Document  No.  88. 


Thomas  Flucker  Esq'. 
Mr.  William  Phillips 
James  Pitts  Esqr. 
Mr.  Benjamin  Dolbeare 
Mr.  Isaac  Smith, 
were  chose  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  &  Seconded  Voted  that  the  Choice  of 
Assessors  Constables  and  Collectors  of  Taxes  be  referr'd  till  the 
Afternoon,  to  be  taken  into  Consideration  imediately  after  the 
Choice  of  a  County  Treasurer. 

Messrs.  John  Phillips  Esqr. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esqr. 

Mr.  John  Scollay 

Mr.  Royall  Tyler 

Cap*.  Hopestill  Foster 

John  Rowe  Esqr. 

Cap'.  Newman  Greenough 

Cap'.  Thomas  Savage 

Nath1.  Wheelwright  Esq'. 

Mr.  Joseph  Jackson 

Mr.  William  Cooper 

Thomas  Flucker  Esqr. 
were  chose  Firewards  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[409-|-.]  The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Town  Treas- 
urer and  upon  viewing  them,  it  appeared  that  Mr.  Davd.  Jeffries 
was  unanimously  chose  to  that  Office,  and  having  taken  the  Oath 
relating  to  his  payiDg  and  receiving  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other 
Governments,  was  also  Sworn  to  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  Duty 
in  that  Office. 

Mess™.  Samuel  Austin 

William  Gray 

Cornelius  Thayer 

Moses  Peck 

Samuel  Dexter 

Samuel  Downe 

John  Winslow 

Daniel  Barker 

Daniel  Boyer 

Thomas  Leverett 

Daniel  Eveleth 

Sam1.  Hewes  Junr. 
were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Markett  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess".  William  Nichols 

Robert  Ford 

Isaac  White 

William  Pain 

William  Welsh 

Obadiah  Lowe 

John  Grant 

Moses  Eayres 

Clement  Collins 

Andrew  Symmes 


Sworn 


Sworn 

Sworn 
Sworn 
Sworn 
Sworn 
Sworn 

Sworn 


Boston  Town  Records,  1758. 

Isaac  Vergoose  Sworn 

Thomas  Bailey  Sworn 

were  chose  Surveyors  of  Boards  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess™.  Nathaniel  Gardner 

Joseph  Belknap 
were  chose  Informers  of  Deer  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[410.]         Mr.  John  Gray 
was  chose  Surveyor  of  Hemp  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Messrs.  Obadiah  Low  Sworn 

Nath1.  Wales 

Onesiphorus  Tilestone 

Thomas  Crafts 

Samuel  Simpson  Sworn 

Caleb  Ray 
were  chose  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Joseph  Curtis 
was  chose  Hay  ward  for  the  Year  ensuing.    Sworn. 
Mess™.  David  Cutler 

Martin  Gay 
were  chose  Assaymasters  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess".  Joseph  Clarke  Sworn 

Thomas  Hase  Excus'd 

John  Child  Sworn 

James  Downing  Sworn 

Josiah  Carter  Sworn 

John  Shepard  Sworn 

Henry  Rhodes 
were  chose  Sealers  of  Leather  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess".  Nath1.  Bird 

Samuel  Smith 

Thomas  Foot 

Philip  Cooke 
were  choose  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess".  Belcher  Noyes 

Benja.  Hammett 

Thomas  Walley 

John  Leverett 

James  Richardson 

Isaac  Savage 

Samuel  Phillips 

John  Forsyth 

Daniel  Coney 

Christ0.  Prince 

Benja.  Harrod 

Edward  Holliday 
were  chose  Scavingers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[4 IO4.]         Mr.  Issac  Dupee 
was  choose  Clerk  of  Faneuil  Hall  Market  for  the  Year  ens*. 
Mess".  Samuel  Treat 

Joseph  Dyer 

David  Spear 

Robert  Treat 


4  City  Document  No.  88. 

John  Hobbs  Sworn 

Jon\  Cary 
Edward  Potter 
Benjamin  Ballard       Sworn 
Benjamin  Barnard 
John  Hoskins 
was  chose  Cullers  of  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Thomas  Greene  Joseph  Jackson  Esq".  &  Mr.  John  Scollay  were 
chose  Purchasers  of  Grain  for  the  Year  ensuing,  &  they  are  desired 
and  impower'd  to  give  all  needful  directions  to  the  Keeper  of  the 
Grainary  respecting  the  Quantities  of  Grain  to  be  Sold  and  Setting 
the  Price  thereof  from  time  to  time  as  occasion  may  require. 

The  Hon°.  Andrew  Oliver  Esqr.  who  was  this  day  chose  one  of 
the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  informed  the  Town  that  his  Affairs  and 
Buisness  will  be  such  the  ensuing  Year,  that  he  cannot  faithfully 
discharge  his  Duty  in  that  Office,  and  therefore  prays  the  Town 
will  excuse  him. 

Voted  that  said  Andw.  Oliver  Esqr.  be  excus'd  according7. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  &  Seconded,  it  was  unanimously  Voted 
that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  is  given  to  the  Hon0. 
Andrew  Oliver  Esqr.  for  the  many  good  Services  he  has  done  the 
Town  as  an  Overseer  of  the  Poor  for  about  Seventeen  Years  past. 

Samuel  Grant  Esqr.  &  Mr.  Thomas  Hill  who  were  this  day  chose 
Selectmen,  informed  the  Town  that  they  had  Serv'd  in  that  Office 
for  several  Years  past,  that  their  Buisness  was  now  such  that  they 
could  not  serve  [411.]  any  longer,  and  pray'd  to  be  excused. 
Voted  that  said  Gent",  be  Excus'd  accordingly. 

Voted  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
is  given  to  Samuel  Grant  Esqr.  &  Mr.  Thomas  Hill  for  the  long 
and  faithful  Services  they  have  done  the  Town  in  Serving  as 
Selectmen  for  many  Years  past. 

Andrew  Oliver  junr.  Esqr. 
Mr.  Benjamin  Austin, 
were  chose  Selectmen  in  the  Room  of  Samuel  Grant  Esqr.  &  Mr. 
Thomas  Hill  who  decline  Serving,  and  they  took  the  Oath  required 
by  Law  relating  to  receiving  and  paying  Bills  of   Credit  of  the 
other  Governments. 

Melatiah  Bourn  Esqr.  was  chose  Overseer  of  the  Poor  in  the 
room  of  the  Honble.  Andrew  Oliver  Esqr.  who  is  Excus'd. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  County  Treasurer  and 
they  were  Sealed  up  by  Const\  Patten,  to  be  by  him  kept  and  re- 
turned to  the  next  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  lo  be  held  for  this 
County. 

Voted  that  there  be  twelve  Constables  chose  for  the  Year  ensu- 
ing, distinct  from  the  Collectors  of  Taxes. 

Voted  that  any  Person  chose  to  Serve  as  a  Constable,  be  ex- 
cused upon  paying  a  Fine  of  Three  Pounds. 

Voted  that  the  Town  will  choose  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  en- 
suing Year,  and  that  there  be  but  two  choose. 

Voted  that  six  pence  on  the  Pound  be  and  hereby  is  allow'd  to 
be  pay'd  to  such  Persons  as  shall  be  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes  the 
Year  ensuing,  for  all  such  Sums  as  they  shall  Collect,  provided 


Boston  Town  Records,   1758.  5 

they  pay  into  the  Town  Treasury  one  half  part  of  the  whole  Sums 
they  are  obliged  to  pay  him  within  four  Months  from  the  time  they 
receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the  Assessors,  and  the  other  half  part 
in  three  Months  after;  and  also  pay  [41 1|-.]  into  the  Province 
and  County  Treasuries  one  half  part  of  the  whole  Sums  they  shall 
be  obliged  to  pay  them  respectively  in  seven  Months  from  the  time 
they  shall  receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the  Assessors  as  aforesaid, 
and  the  other  half  in  five  Months  after,  and  in  Case  either  of  said 
Collectors  shall  fail  paying  in  manner  aforesaid,  the  Collector  so 
failing  shall  not  be  entitled  to  the  aforesaid  allowance  of  six  pence 
on  the  Pound,  but  wholly  forfeit  the  same.  Provided  also  that 
each  of  said  Collectors  give  Bond  with  sufficient  Sureties  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their 
Duty  in  said  Office  and  complying  with  this  Vote. 

The  Inhabitants  brought   in  their  Votes  for  two  Collectors  of 
Taxes  and  upon  Sorting  them  it  appeared  that, 
Thomas  Greene  Esqr,  & 
John  Rowe  Esqr. 
were  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Thomas  Greene  Esqr.  declined  Serving  in  the  Office  of  a  Col- 
lector of  Taxes,  &  having  a  Commission  for  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
the  Town  apprehend  he  is  not  obliged  to  Serve,  or  pay  the  Fine. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  Seconded  Voted  that  John  Rowe  Esqr. 
be  Excus'd  from  Serving  in  the  Office  of  a  Collector  of  Taxes. 

A  Motion  was  made  and  Seconded  that  the  Town  would  re- 
consider their  Vote  pass'd  allowing  six  pence  on  the  Pound  only 
for  Collecting  of  Taxes,  &  after  a  long  debate  thereon  it  was 
Voted  that  the  further  Consideration  hereof  be  ref'err'd  'till  to- 
morrow Morning. 

Voted  that  this  Meeting  be  &  hereby  is  Adjourned  'till  tomorrow 
Morning  ten  o'Clock. 

[412.]  Tuesday  Morning  ten  o'Clock  the  Town  Mett  accord- 
ing to  Adjournment. 

The  Motion  made  Yesterday  that  the  Town  would  reconsider 
the  Vote  passed  for  allowing  six  pence  only  on  the  Pound  for  Col- 
lecting the  Taxes,  was  taken  into  Consideration,  and  after  a  long 
debate  thereon,  Voted  that  the  Town  will  allow  no  further  Sum 
than  six  pence  on  the  Pound  for  Collecting  the  Taxes. 

Voted  that  Thomas  Greene  Esqr.  Mr.  Royall  Tyler  &  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Cooper  be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  ex- 
amine the  Accompts  of  the  Managers  of  the  Boston  Lotteries  N09. 
three  four  &  five,  and  they  are  desired  to  make  Report  thereon  as 
soon  as  may  be. 

Messrs.  John  Patten 

Augustus  Hail 
Nath1.  Thayer 
Thomas  Hubbard 
David  Bell 
Thomas  Bell 
John  Coverle}r 
Eliphalet,  Parker 
James  Thomas 


6  City  Document  No.  88. 

Thomas  Gardner 

John  Cumston 

Francis  Salmon 
were  chose  Constables  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess™.  Cap*.  John  Goldthwait 

William  Fairfield 

John  Kneeland 

Benja.  Church 

Peter  Oliver 

Sanmel  Edwards 

Isaac  White 
were  chose  Assessors  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[41 .2 J.]  The  Selectmen's  Report  on  the  Accompt  of  Mr. 
John  Fenno  Keeper  of  the  Grainary  for  the  Year  past  as  Enter'd 
in  his  Book  (and  on  File  in  the  Town  Clerk's  Office)  Read,  and 
Voted  that  the  same  be  accepted,  and  that  Mr.  Fenno  be  account- 
able to  the  Town  for  2220  Bushells  of  Corn,  and  130  Bushells  of 
Rye  remaining  unsold,  amounting  to  £259  ,,  6  ,,  8  and  also  for  the 
Sum  of  £210  ,,  7  ,,  2|  Cash  now  in  his  hands,  exclusive  of  the  Sum 
of  £26  ,,  13  ,,  4,  exclusive  of  his  Salary  and  Assistance  as  Charged 
in  said  Accompt,  which  is  hereby  allowed  him. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  14th.  of  March  last  to  Audit  the 
Accompts  of  Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries,  now  Reported  that  they  had 
attended  that  Service,  &  found  the  same  right  Cast  and  well 
Vouch'd,  in  which  he  charges  himself  with  sundry  Fines  Rents 
and  other  Incomes  of  the  Town,  as  also  with  the  Tax  of  £5000, 
all  which  amount  (including  the  Ballance  of  the  old  Accompt)  to 
£6918  "  1  -8  —  and  the  said  Treasurer  discharges  himself  by  sundry 
Abatements  made  the  Collectors,  by  Drafts  made  by  the  Select- 
men am0,  to  £2593  ,,  8  ,,3|,  and  Drafts  made  by  the  Overseers 
of  the  Poor,  which  contain  the  Charges  of  the  Alms-house  and 
Work-house  amounting  to  £1714 ,,  8,,  3£  which  we  have  in- 
spected in  a  very  particular  manner,  by  exam8,  every  particular 
Voucher  produced  by  the  Overseers  for  the  amount  of  that  Sum, 
and  every  other  Branch  of  Public  Charge,  all  amounting  to 
£6749  ,,  8  ,,  11.  by  which  it  appears  that  when  all  the  Taxes  Rents 
and  Incomes  of  the  Town  are  in,  the  Ballance  will  be  £168  ,,  12  ,,  9 
which  the  said  Treasurer  is  further  to  account  for,  as  appears  by 
the  Tryall  ballance  of  said  Accompt  given  in  by  sd.  Committee  and 
on  File.  Which  Report  &  Accompt  being  Read,  Voted  that  the 
same  be  Accepted. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  14th.  of  March  last  to  Audit  the 
Accompts  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  Report,  that  they  had 
attended  that  Service,  &  on  Examination  of  each  Particular  Bill 
for  which  said  Overseers  (413.)  Drew  on  the  Town  Treasurer, 
are  of  the  mind  that  considerable  Saving  has  been  made  to  the 
Town  the  Year  past,  by  the  Gentlemen  Overseers  paying  for  the 
AVood  Grain  and  other  Articles  in  ready  Money,  and  find  there 
is  the  Sum  of  £19  :  5  :  6  due  to  them  for  Interest  on  the  Sums 
advane'd  to  this  day,  and  that  so  much  of  their  respective  Taxes 
should  be  allowed  to  each  of  them,  as  is  their  due  out  of  their 
respective  Rates  by  the  Collectors  of  Taxes,  agreeable  to  the  Vote 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  1758.  7 

of  the  Town.  And  said  Committee  further  Report  as  their 
Opinion,  that  it  will  be  for  the  Interest  of  the  Town  to  desire  the 
Gentlemen  that  may  be  chosen  as  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  for  the 
present  Year,  be  desir'd  to  buy  all  with  Money,  and  that  Interest 
should  be  allowed  them  for  advancing  the  same,  and  that  what 
shall  be  so  Advanc'd  shall  be  discounted  out  of  their  Taxes  or 
others  for  the  Year  17  oH. 

Interest  due  to  the  Gentlemen  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  for 
Monies  by  them  advanc'd  in  the  Year  past  is  as  follows,  viz*. 
To  Andrew   Oliver  Esqr £1  ,,  14  ,,  0. 

Ebenezer  Storer  Esqr 4,,     2, ,8. 

Mr.   Isaac  Walker „       18    . 

Mr.  John  Barrett 1  ,,  18    . 

Mr.  John  Tudor 1  ,,  10    . 

Thomas  Flucker  Esqr 2  ,,  11    . 

Mr.  Royall  Tyler 1„     4    . 

Mr.  William  Phillips ,,       10    . 

James  Pitts  Esqr.   .     .     .     .     .     .     .       2  ,,     8  ,,  2 

Mr.  Benja.  Dolbeare ,,       15„8 

Mr.  Isaac  Smith 1  ,,  14    . 


£19  „     5  „  6 


which  Report  was  Read  and  Accepted.  And  Voted  that  the  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing,  be  allow'd  interest  on  all 
such  Sums  as  they  shall  Advance  or  Borrow  for  the  Support  of  the 
Poor. 

The  Town  took  into  Consideration  the  Method  of  raising  Monies 
for  the  payment  of  Schoolmasters,  for  the  Relief  of  the  Poor,  and 
the  defreying  other  necessary  Charges,  and  after  a  very  long  de- 
bate thereon.  Voted  that  the  Sum  of  [413£.]  Money  that  shall 
be  agreed  upon  to  be  raised  at  this  Meeting  for  the  purposes  afore- 
said, shall,  as  soon  as  may  be,  be  apportion'd  by  the  Assessors, 
and  the  Collectors  of  Taxes  shall  upon  receiving  said  Assessments 
from  them,  forthwith  Collect  and  pay  the  same  in  to  the  Town 
Treasury,  &  that  no  more  than  six  pence  on  the  Pound  he  allow'd 
for  Collecting  of  Taxes. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Six  Thousaud  Pounds  Lawful  money  be 
rais'd  by  a  Tax  upon  Polls  and  Estates  within  this  Town  for 
Relief  of  the  Poor,  and  defreying  other  necessary  Charges  arising 
within  the  Town  the  Year  ensuing. 

Voted  that  Thomas  Greene  James  Boutineau  and  John  Rowe 
Esqrs.  Mr.  Nicholas  Boylstone  and  Mr.  William  Cooper,  be  and 
they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the  Accompts  of 
Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries,  and  also  the  Accompts  of  the  Overseers  of 
the  Poor,  and  the  said  Committee  are  desir'd  &  impower'd  to  In- 
spect every  particular  Accompt  of  the  Monies  expended  for  the 
use  of  the  Alms-house,  they  are  also  im powered  when  they  shall 
audit  said  Accompts  to  allow  to  said  Overseers  or  such  of  them  as 
shall  advance  Monies  for  the  Support  of  the  Poor,  Interest  on  all 
such  Sums  from  the  time  advanc'd  'till  they  shall  Audit  said 
Accompts. 


8  City  Document  JNo.  88. 

Voted  that  the  Town  proceed  to  the  Choice  of  four  Collectors  of 
Taxes,  the  Vote  passed  this  Meeting  for  choosing  only  two,  not- 
withstanding, accordingly  the  Votes  were  brought  in,  and  upon 
Sorting  them  it  appeared  that, 

Mess13.  John  Ruddock 
James  Scutt 
Jonathan  Payson  & 
Samuel  Adams, 
were  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

In  margin.    .  [Tythingmen.]     Nothing  done  thereon. 

[414.]  The  Petition  of  suudry  Inhabitants  praying  that  the 
Town  would  pave  the  lower  end  of  Prince  Street  leading  to 
Charlestown  Ferry,  for  reasons  therein  mentioned,  was  Read,  and 
after  a  short  debate,  Voted  that  said  Petition  be  dismiss'd. 

The  Petition  of  the  Watchmen  of  the  Town  praying  for  an 
Addition  to  their  Wages,  for  reasons  therein  mentioned  was 
Read,  Voted  that  said  Petition  be  dismiss'd. 

The  Petition  of  Edward  Holliday  of  Boston  Shopkeeper,  setting 
forth,  that  Thomas  Downe  junr.  was  chose  by  the  Town  one  of 
their  Collectors  of  the  Public  taxes  for  the  Years  1751,  1752, 
1753,  1754  &  1755,  that  your  Petitioner  become  one  of  his  Bonds- 
men for  the  last  mentioned  Year,  whereby  he  obliged  himself  that 
the  Taxes  committed  to  said  Downe  to  Collect,  should  be  pay'd  in 
to  the  several  Treasurers  according  to  the  Warrants  he  received 
for  that  purpose,  that  said  Downe  fail'd  in  his  Circumstances, 
before  he  had  compleated  Collecting  and  paying  in  said  Taxes,  and 
the  other  Bondsmen  also  failing,  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town 
immediately  applied  to  your  Petitioner  and  informed  him  that  he 
must  make  up  the  deficiency  of  said  Sum  said  Downe  was  to  pay, 
and  for  further  Security,  they  Attached  your  Petitioners  House 
and  Land,  and  as  the  outstanding  Tax  could  not  be  gather'd  in, 
unless  some  other  Person  was  appointed,  your  Petitioner  was 
Advis'd  to  make  Application  to  the  General  Court  that  he  might  be 
Impower'd  in  the  room  of  said  Downe  to  Collect  the  same,  which 
he  did,  &  the  General  Court  thereupon  authoriz'd  your  Petitioner 
not  only  to  gather  in  the  Taxes  of  the  Year  1755,  but  such 
as  shou'd  appear  to  be  unpaid  the  other  abovementioned 
Years,  that  your  Petr.  on  Examining  said  Downe's  Tax  Books 
found  there  were  considerable  Sums  unpaid  in  those  Years,  and  lie 
has  for  several  Months  past  been  endeavouring  to  get  in  the  same, 
and  has  accordingly  received  considerable,  but  there  were  many 
Persons  in  some  of  the  above  Years  taxed,  so  extremely  Poor, 
that  said  Downe  could  not  get  one  farthing  of  them,  nor  are  they 
yet  able  to  pay  any  part,  many  others  have  been  dead  for  some 
time  and  left  nothing,  the  Petitioner  [414^.]  having  tryed 
all  possible  Methods  but  to  no  effect,  that  said  Downe  before  he 
fail'd  intended  to  have  applied  to  the  Town  for  an  Abatement  of 
Taxes  of  such  Poor,  but  did  not. 

The  Petitioner  therefore  prays  the  Town  would  now  Appoint  a 
Committee  to  make  enquiry  into  the  Circumstances  of  such  Per- 
sons who  have  not  pay'd  their  Taxes  in  the  afore-mentioned 
Years,  and  he  doubts  not  but  they  will  be  Convinc'd  they  never 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  1758.  9 

were  able  to  pay  them,  and  that  upon  their  Report  the  Town  will 
judge  it,  to  be  equitable  said  Taxes  should  be  Abated,  and  as  the 
Petitioner  will  be  almost  ruin'd  by  beiug  unhappily  bound  for  said 
Downe,  he  prays  he  may  be  heard  by  said  Committee  relating  to 
such  Abatements  as  he  apprehends  in  Justice  ought  to  be  made, 
was  Read  and  thereupon  Voted  that  the  Assessors  be  and  they 
hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  take  the  same  into  Consider- 
ation, hear  the  Petitioner  aud  Report  to  the  Town  as  soon  as 
may  be,  what  Taxes  they  shall  judge  ought  in  Equity  to  be 
Abated  in  the  several  Years  therein  mentioned. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  consider  what  is  necessary  further  to  be 
done  relating  to  the  By-Laws  and  Orders  of  the  Town  &  thereupon 
Voted  that  Thomas  Greene  Esqr.  Mr.  Oxenbridge  Thacher  and  Mr. 
William  Story  be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to 
Collect  all  the  By-Laws  &  Orders  of  the  Town  now  in  force,  and 
range  them  in  such  manner  as  they  shall  think  proper,  in  order  to 
their  being  Printed  &  Report  their  doings  hereon  as  soon  as  maybe. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  be  and  they  hereby  are  Impower'd  to 
sit  on  every  Thursday  from  this  day  untill  the  last  Thursday  of 
April  next  inclusive,  and  no  longer  for  making  an  Abatement  of 
the  Taxes  of  such  Persons  as  they  shall  judge  reasonable,  saving 
that  they  have  liberty  to  sit  the  two  last  Weeks  in  November  next 
to  Abate  (if  they  see  cause)  the  Taxes  of  all  such  Persons  as  shall 
appear  to  them  to  have  been  out  of  the  Province,  and  so  could  not 
have  made  Application  to  them  for  an  Abatement  by  said  last 
Thursday  in  April. 

[415.]  Voted  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  the  last 
Friday  in  April  next  being  the  28th.  of  the  Month,  at  ten  o'Clock 
in  the  forenoon,  and  the  same  is  Adjourn'd  to  that  time  accord- 
ingly. 

Friday  April  28th.  1758  The  Town  mett  according  to  Adjournm'. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  Audit  the  Accompts  of  the  Man- 
agers of  Boston  Lotteries  N03.  3:4:  5.  Reported  that  they  had 
Attended  that  Service,  and  find  the  same  right,  &  that  the  follow- 
ing Sums  be  allow'd  them,  viz'. 


.     .     £43,,  16„  8    . 

.     .     . 

Mr.  Thomas  Hill     .     .     . 

.     .        42„  13„.     . 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esqr. 

.     .       42„  13„.     . 

Joseph  Jackson  Ksqr. 

.     .        42„  13„  .     . 

Mr.  Thomas  dishing  . 

.     .        43„     2„.     . 

Mr.  Samuel  Ilewes 

,     .        43„     8„.     .. 

Mr.  John  Scollay    .     .     . 

.     .        39,,  16„,     . 

Voted  that  all  Matters  and  Things  mentioned  in  the  Warrant 
that  remain  unfinished  be  and  they  hereby  are  referr'd  over  to  May 
Meeting,  to  be  then  Acted  upon. 

Voted  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
is  given  to  John  Phillips  Esqr.  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for 
Transacting  the  Buisness  thereof. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dismiss'd.     . 

[415£.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhab- 
itants of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualifyed  and  Warned  in 


10  City  Document  No.  88. 

Public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Tuesday  the 
sixteenth  clay  of  May  AD  1758. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Mr.  Ebenr.  Pemberton. 

The  Precept  &  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  Read. 

Sundry  Laws     Read. 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esqr.  one  of  the  Selectmen  proposed  in  their 
Names  to  the  Inhabitants  Assembled  to  proceed  to  the  Choice  of 
one  or  more  Persons  to  represent  them  in  the  Great  and  General 
Court  or  Assembly  to  be  held  at  Boston  upon  Wednesday  the 
thirty  first  day  of  May  current,  and  in  order  thereto  to  Consider 
and  Ascertain  the  number  of  Gentlemen  to  be  elected,  accordingly 
it  was  Voted  to  proceed  to  the  Choice  of  four  Representatives,  and 
then  it  was  declar'd  by  the  Selectmen,  that  no  Votes  would  be 
received  after  twelve  o'Clock,  but  the  Poll  then  clos'd. 

The  Votes  being  Collected  the  Number  of  Voters  were  found  to 
be  369,  &  upon  Sorting  them  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gen- 
tlemen were  chose  viz4. 

The  Hon0.  Thomas  Hubbard  Esqr 300 

Mr.  John  Tyng .     234 

Thomas  Flucker  Esqr 291 

Benjamin  Prat  Esqr 309 

which  was  declar'd  by  the  Selectmen. 

The  Inhabitants  proceeded  to  bring  in  their  Votes  for  a  Moder- 
ator, and  upon  Sorting  them  it  appeared  that  the  Hon0.  Thomas 
Hubbard  Esqr.  was  chose,  &  he  having  taken  the  Oath  respecting 
his  receiving  &  paying  Bills  of  Credit  of  theGoverm'3  of  Connecti- 
cut New  Hampshire  &  Rhode  Island  as  required  by  the  Act  of 
this  Province,  took  his  Seat, 

[416.]     The  Petitions  Read. 

The  Town  took  into  Consideration  the  Article  in  the  Warr4.  viz4, 
"  what  is  necessary  to  be  done  for  the  preservation  of  Beacon 
Hill."  and  thereupon  Voted  that  Thomas  Hancock  Esqr.  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Cooper  and  Mr.  John  Avery  be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed 
a  Committee  to  repair  to  said  Hill,  view  the  same  &  Report  to  the 
Town  the  circumstances  thereof,  and  what  they  judge  necessary  to 
be  done  for  the  better  Security  of  said  Hill. 

The  Petition  of  the  Watchmen  of  the  Town  praying  that  an 
Addition  may  be  made  to  their  Wages,  was  Read,  and  after  a 
a  short  Debate  Voted  that  the  Sum  of  four  shillings  p  Month  be 
allowed  in  Addition  to  their  present  pay. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz4.  "  whether  the  Town  will  Im- 
power  the  Selectmen  to  Sell  a  small  Peice  of  Land  near  Fort-hill 
adjoining  to  Mr.  Alexander  Hunt's  Land."  was  taken  into  Con- 
sideration and  thereupon  Voted  that  Josa.  Henshaw  Esqr.  Joseph 
Jackson  Esqr.  Mr.  Thomas  Cushing  Mr.  John  Scollay,  Mr.  Samuel 
Hewes,  Mr.  Benjamin  Austin  and  Andrew  Oliver  junr.  Esqr.  the 
present  Selectmen  be  &  they  hereby  are  fully  authoriz'd  and  Im- 
power'd  to  Sell  said  Land  to  such  Person  as  will  give  most  for  the 
same,  and  in  the  Name  and  behalf  of  the  Town  to  give  and 
execute  a  good  and  legal  Deed  thereof  to  the  Purchaser. 

The  Selectmen  appointed  a  Committee  the  10th.  of  May  last  to 
Visit  the  Schools,  now  made  the  following  Report  Viz4. 


Boston  Town  Recoeds,  1758.  11 

To  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
in  Town  Meeting  Assembled  May  16th.  1758. 

Pursuant  to  the  Vote  of  the  Town  of  Boston  at  their  Meeting  the 
tenth  of  May  last  desiring  the  Selectmen  to  Visit  the  Schools  and 
Invite  such  Gentlemen  to  accompany  them  as  they  should  think 
proper  do  now  Report, 

That  on  the  24th.  day  of  June  last  they  attended  that  Service 
accompanied  by  the  following  Gentlemen  viz'. 

The  Hon0.  John  Osborn  Jacob  Wendell  Stephen  Sewall  ) 

Richd.  Bill      Andw.  Oliver     John  Erving      J-  Esq™. 

Robert  Hooper) 
[416£.]     The  Gentu.  Representatives  of  the  Town, 
The  Gentu.  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor, 
The  Revd.  the  Ministers  of  the  Town 
Mr.  Treasurer  Gray 

Joshua  Winslow       ") 
Richard  Dana  i  ^     r3 

James  Boutineau       f      ^ 
Stephen  Greenleaf   J 
Doctr.  William  Clarke  & 
Mr.  John  Ruddock 
and  found  in  the  South  Grammar  School  there  was  115  Scholars, 
in  the  South  Writing  School  240  Scholars,  in  the  Writing  School 
in  Queen  Street  230  Scholars,  in  the  North  Grammar  School  36 
Scholars,  in  the  North  Writing  School  220  Scholars,  all  in  very 
good  Order. 

Read  and  Accepted,  and  Voted  that  the  Gentlemen  the  Select- 
men, be  and  they  hereby  are  desired  to  Visit  the  Schools  this 
present  Year,  and  invite  such  Gentlemen  to  accompany  them  as 
they  shall  think  proper. 

Voted  that  Thomas  Greene  and  Royall  Tyler  Esqrs.  and  Mr. 
William  Cooper  be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to 
Audit  the  Accompts  of  the  Managers  of  Boston  Lottery  N°.  6.  & 
they  are  desired  to  Report  thereon,  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  make  a  particular  Enquiry 
into  the  State  of  the  several  Public  Schools  in  Town,  and  whether 
there  is  any  Neglect  of  Duty  in  the  Masters  or  Ushers  of  said 
Schools,  &  Report  the  same  to  the  Town 

The  Committee  appointed  the  13th.  of  March  last  on  a  Petition 
of  Edward  Holliday  made  Report,  which  was  Read,  and  Voted 
that  the  Consideration  of  said  Petition  and  Report,  be  referr'd 
to  a  future  day,  to  be  then  Acted  upon  as  the  Town  shall  judge 
proper. 

[417.]  Voted  that  Mr.  Peleg  Wiswall  be  allow'd  for  his 
Salary  as  Master  of  the  North  Grammar  School  at  the  Rate  of 
Eighty  Pounds  per  Annum  untill  the  Town  shall  otherwise  Order. 
Voted  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  and  twenty  Pounds  be 
allowed  and  pay'd  unto  Mr.  John  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Master 
of  the  South  Grammar  School,  the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  pay'd  him 
Quarterly  and  to  Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 
Voted  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allow'd  and 
pay'd  unto  Mr.  Abia  Holbrook  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the 


12  City  Document  No.  88. 

South  Writing  School,  the  ensuing  Year  to  be  pay'd  him  Quarterly 
and  to  Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allow'd  and 
pay'd  unto  Mr.  Zachariah  Hicks  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the 
North  Writing  School,  the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  pay'd  him  Quar- 
terly, &  to  Commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  hist  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allow'd  and  pa^'d  to 
Mr.  Samuel  Holyoke  one  of  the  Masters  of  the  Writing  School 
in  Queen  Street  the  ensuing  Year  to  be  pay'd  him  Quarterly, 
and  to  Commeuce  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allow'd  and  pay'd  unto 
Mr.  John  Procter  one  of  the  Masters  of  the  Writing  School  in 
Queen  Street,  the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  pay'd  him  Quarterly  &  to 
Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allow'd  and  pay'd  unto 
Mr.  Nath1.  Gardner  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  to  the  South  Grammar 
School  the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  pay'd  him  Quarterly,  and  to  Com- 
mence at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

[417£.]  Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allow'd  and 
pay'd  unto  Mr.  John  Vinal  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  South 
writing  School  the  Year  ensuing  to  be  pay'd  him  Quarterly,  and  to 
commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allow'd  and  pay'd  unto 
Mr.  John  Tilestone  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  North  Writing 
School  the  ensuing  Year  to  be  pay'd  him  Quarterly  and  to  Com- 
mence at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allow'd  and 
pay'd  unto  Mr.  David  Jeffries  for  his  Services  as  Treasurer  of  the 
Town  the  Year  past,  and  for  all  his  Expences  in  that  Office. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Twenty  Pounds  be  allow'd  and  pay'd 
unto  Cap1.  Isaac  Dupee  for  his  Services  as  Clerk  of  Faneuil  Hall- 
Markett  the  Year  past. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  13th.  of  March  last  to  Collect  all 
the  By-Laws  and  Orders  of  the  Town  now  in  force,  and  Range 
them  in  such  manner  as  they  shall  think  proper  in  Order  to  their 
being  Printed,  Report,  that  they  apprehend  it  will  be  proper  for 
t*he  By-Laws  lately  Voted  by  the  Town  and  pass'd  the  Sessions, 
to  be  Printed  as  soon  as  may  be,  that  with  them  be  Printed  a  By- 
Law  made  March  14th.  1725  which  contains  the  last  Provision 
relating  to  the  Dirt  in  the  Streets,  before  the  new  By  Laws.  That 
the  Title  of  the  whole  be  this ;  The  By  Laws  and  Orders  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  — Revis'd  1758.  The  said  By-Law  March  14th. 
1725  to  be  first  Printed,  and  then  the  others  to  follow  in  their 

Order  as  Voted  by  the  Town  &  Confirmed  by  the  Sessions. 

which  Report  being  Read  and  Considered  of  Voted  that  the  same 
be  &  hereby  is  accepted.  And  the  Selectmen  are  desired  to  cause 
such  a  Number  of  sd.  By-Laws  &  Orders  to  be  Printed  as  they 
shall  judge  necessary  upon  the  best  Terms  they  can. 

[418.]  The  Petition  of  Hugh  MeDaniel  of  Boston  praying 
the  Town  will  abate  him  part  of  the  Rent  of  a  House  and  Land 
on  the  Neck  he  hired  of  the  Town  the  25th.  of  March  1752  for 
Reasons  therein   mention'd  was  Read   &   thereupon  Voted   that 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  1758.  13 

"Richard  Dana  Esqr.  Mr.  William  Story,  and  Royall  Tyler  Esqr.  be 
and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  of  said 
Petition  view  the  Premisses,  hear  the  Petitioner,  and  Report  to 
the  Town  what  they  shall  judge  reasonable  to  be  done  thereupon. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  they  hereby  are  desired  to 
usue  a  Warrant  for  a  Town  Meeting  to  be  on  the  same  day  of  the 
propos'd  Adjournment  of  this  Meeting,  in  Order  to  know  whether 
the  Town  will  then  desire  said  Selectmen  to  appoint  a  Master  for 
the  North  Grammar  School,  or  an  Usher  or  Assistant  to  the 
present  Master  there.  Also  whether  the  Town  will  make  any 
further  Allowance  to  the  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  Collecting  them, 
than  six  pence  on  the  Pound  Voted  in  March  last. 

Voted  that  this  Meeting  be  and  hereby  is  Adjourned  to  Monday 
the  12th.  day  of  June  next  at  10  o'Clock  in  the  forenoon. 

Monday  the  12th  of  June  1758.  The  Town  mett  according  to 
their  Adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  16th.  of  May  last,  on  the  Petition 
of  Hugh  Mc.Daniel,  Report,  that  they  had  viewed  the  demised 
House  and  Land  mentioned  in  said  Petition  heard  the  Petitioner 
thereupon,  and  find  that  said  Peice  of  Land  falls  short  in  Measure 
about  one  quarter  part  of  what  it  is  suppos'd  in  the  Lease  to  con- 
tain, &  after  due  Consideration  of  all  Circumstances  respecting  this 
Affair  they  are  of  Opinion  that  it  is  reasonable  that  the  Sum  of 
Sixteen  Pounds  of  Lawful  money  be  Abated  to  the  Petitioner  out 
of  the  Rent  of  the  Premisses  for  the  time  past,  and  that  he  for  the 
future  pay  no  more  than  Thirteen  Pounds  six  shillings  and  eight 
pence  Lawful  money  by  the  Year  for  the  Rent  of  the  Premisses 
during  the  Residue  of  his  Term  therein  according  to  his  [418i.] 
Leas;',  which  Report  being  Read,  Voted  that  the  same  be  Accepted, 
and  that  the  Treasurer  be  and  hereby  is  directed  to  allow  to  said 
Hugh  Mc. Daniel  the  Sum  of  Sixteen  Pounds  out  of  the  Rent  of 
said  Premisses  for  the  time  past,  and  that  for  the  future  said 
Mc.  Daniel  pay  the  Sum  of  Thirteen  Pounds  six  shillings  and  eight 
pence  only  for  the  Annual  Rent  of  said  Premisses  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  Term  mention'd  in  his  Lease. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  16th  of  May  last  to  Audit  the 
Accompts  of  the  Managers  of  Boston  Lottery  N°.  6.  Report,  that 
they  had  attended  that  Service,  aud  found  said  Accompts  right 
and  that  the  same  be  allow'd,  Voted  that  said  Report  be  accepted, 
and  that  the  follow8.  Sums  be  allowed  and  pay'd  to  said  Managers 
in  full  of  their  Accompts  Viz*. 

To  Samuel  Grant  Esqr £  14  ,,  17  ,,    0     .     . 

Mr.  Thomas  Hill 15  „    ,,        ,,     .     . 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esqr 14  ,,    2        ,,     .     . 

Joseph  Jackson  Esqr.      .     .     .     .         14,,    5        ,,     .     . 
Mr.  Thomas  Cushing       .     .     .     .         14,,    9        ,,     .     . 

Mr.  Samuel  Hewes 14  ,,    2        ,,     .     . 

Mr.  John  Scollay 13  ,,    1        ,,     .     . 

The  Committee  appointed  the  13th  of  March  last  on  the  Petition 
of  Edward  Ilolliday  Reported  the  16th  of  May  last,  that  they  had 
considered  of  the  Subject  Matter  of  said  Petition,  and  what  Taxes 
ought  in  Equity  to  be  Abated,  &  that  the  several  Taxes  mentioned 


14  City  Document  No.  88. 

in  a  List  annexed  to  Said  Report  ought  to  be  Abated,  which 
Report  and  List  upon  a  Motion  now  made  was  Read  over,  and  a 
Debate  was  had  thereupon,  and  after  some  time,  it  was  moved  and 
Voted  that  said  Report  be  Recommitted,  and  that  said  Committee 
in  Considering  what  Abatements  be  made  to  the  Petitioner  be  and 
they  hereby  are  directed  to  go  no  further  back  in  making  Abate- 
ments then  since  the  Year  1754,  the  said  Thoa.  Downe  inenld.  in 
sd  Petn.  having  recd.  his  Premium  for  Collecting  Taxes  for  that 
Year,  &  said  Comee.  are  desir'd  to  make  Report  hereon  as  soon  as 
they  have  done  the  same. 

[419.]  The  Committee  appointed  the  lG,h.  of  May  last  to 
consider  what  is  necessary  to  be  done  for  the  preservation  of 
Beacon  Hill,  Report  that  they  had  viewed  said  Hill,  and  that  it 
appears  to  them  absolutely  necessary  that  speedy  Measures  should 
be  taken  by  the  Town  to  prevent  the  digging  away  any  further 
part  of  it,  in  Order  for  the  Preservation  of  the  whole,  and  as  Mr. 
Hudson  who  purcfaas'd  a  part  of  said  Hill,  and  is  now  digging  the 
same  has  mentioned  a  readiness  to  dispose  of  his  Right  therein,  on 
such  Terms  as  may  by  Persons  chose  be  judged  reasonable,  said 
Committee  further  Report  as  their  Opinion  that  the  Gentlemen  the 
Selectmen  be  directed  and  impower'd  to  purchase  for  the  Town 
said  Hudsons  Interest  in  said  Hill,  and  in  Case  of  any  disagree- 
ment concerning  it,  that  they  then  apply  to  the  General  Court  for 
yr.  Interposition,  which  Report  being  Read,  It  was  Vo'.ed  that  the 
same  be  Accepted,  and  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  they  hereby 
Authoriz'd  and  Impower'd  to  Purchase  of  said  Hudson  his  Right 
&  Interest  in  said  Hill  on  such  Terms  as  they  shall  agree  at  d  in 
Case  they  shall  not  be  able  to  Effect  the  same  with  said  Hudson, 
said  Selectmen  are  hereby  directed  to  apply  to  the  General  Court 
for  their  Interposition  and  Assistance  in  Order  to  Compel  said 
Hudson  to  Sell  his  Right  and  Interest  in  said  Hill  for  a  reason- 
able Consideration. 

The  Selectmen  being  desir'd  by  a  Vote  pass'd  the  10th.  of  May 
hist,  to  make  a  particular  Enquiry  into  the  State  of  the  several 
Public  Schools  in  Town,  and  whether  there  is  an}1-  Neglect  of  duty 
in  the  Masters  or  Ushers  of  said  Schools,  Report  that  they  had 
attended  that  Service,  and  don't  find  that  there  has  been  any 
neglect  of  Duty  in  any  of  the  Masters  or  Ushers  of  said  Schools, 
except  in  the  North  Writing  School  where  Mr.  Zachariah  Hicks  is 
Master,  upon  which  they  had  sent  for  Mr.  Hicks,  and  Convers'd 
with  him  concerning  the  Government  of  said  School,  and  inform'd 
him  of  some  Complaints  that  were  made  against  his  Conduct  there, 
&  in  not  giving  proper  Attendance  at  said  School,  Mr.  Hicks 
thereupon  acknowledged  that  he  had  not  so  constantly  attended  at 
said  School  for  some  time  past,  as  heretofore,  but  that  the  same 
was  wholly  owing  to  Indisposition,  [419£.]  but  as  he  was  now 
much  better  in  his  health,  he  should  give  his  constant  Attendance, 
and  in  every  respect  faithfully  discharge  his  Duty  as  Master  of 
said  School:  the  Selectmen  further  Report  that  upon  Enquiry 
they  are  of  Opinion,  that  the  neglect  of  Duty  complained  of  was 
not  for  want  of  Fidelity  in  Mr.  llicks,  but  that  it  was  occasion'd 
wholly  by  his  Indisposition,  and  that  as  he  has  been  a  faithful 


Boston  Town  Records,  1758.  15 

Master  in  said  School  for  many  Years  past,  they  doubt  not  now 
he  is  recovered  his  Health  he  will  continue  so  ;  Whereupon  it  was 
Unanimously  Voted  that  said  Eeport  be  and  hereby  is  Accepted. 
Then  the  Meeting  was  Dismiss'd. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualifyed  and  warned  in  Public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil-Hall  on  Monday  the  twelfth  day 
of  June  AD  1758. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting,  Read. 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Hubbard  Esqr.  was  chose  Moderator  of 
this  Meeting. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz',  whether  the  Town  will  desire 
the  Selectmen  to  appoint  an  Assistant  to  the  Master  of  the  North 
Grammar  School,  or  consider  what  may  be  further  necessary  to  be 
done  for  the  Instruction  of  the  Youth  there :  was  Consider'd  of, 
and  after  some  Debate  thereon.  It  was  Voted  that  the  Selectmen 
be  and  they  hereb}'  are  desired  to  appoint  an  Assistant  to  the 
Master  of  sd.  School,  and  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  and 
twenty  Pounds  be  allowed  for  the  Yearly  Salary  of  said  Master 
and  Assistant,  and  that  such  a  pai't  thereof  be  paid  to  the  Assist- 
ant as  the  Selectmen  shall  agree  with  him  for. 

[420.]  The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz'.  Whether  the  Town 
will  make  any  further  Allowance  to  the  Collectors  of  Taxes  than 
the  six  pence  on  the  Pound  Voted  in  March  last.  It  was  Voted 
that  the  Sum  of  three  pence  on  the  Pound  be  allow'd  to  the  Col- 
lectors in  Addition  to  six  pence  on  the  pound  Voted  in  March  last, 
provided  they  pay  into  the  Town  Treasury  one  half  the  Sum  they 
shall  be  obliged  severally  to  collect  by  the  first  of  November  next, 
and  the  remainder  by  the  first  of  March  following. 

James  Scutt  who  was  chose  one  of  the  Collectors  of  Taxes  in 
March  last  declined  serving,  whereupon  John  Grant  was  chose  in 
his  Room. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant,  Viz4,  To  enquire  whether  the  Con- 
ditions of  the  Lease  of  Deer  Island  made  to  Henry  Atkins  Esqr. 
and  others  have  been  comply'd  with,  and  for  the  Town  to  Act 
thereupon  as  may  be  thought  proper.  Was  taken  into  Considera- 
tion, and  several  of  the  Proprietors  of  Point  Shirley  to  whom  said 
Lease  was  made  being  present,  declar'd  that  they  had  not  so  far 
complyed  with  the  Conditions  of  the  Lease  by  which  they  hold 
said  Island  as  to  send  out  and  employ  this  last  Year  such  a  num- 
ber of  Vessells  or  Schooners  in  the  Fishery  as  they  were  obliged 
by  said  Lease  to  do,  being  prevented  only  by  the  present  War  with 
the  French,  they  having  had  three  or  four  Vessells  taken  when  a 
fishing,  by  the  French,  but  as  soon  as  there  was  a  Peace  or  Louis- 
bourg  sho'd  be  reduced  to  the  Obedience  of  the  Crown  of  Great 
Britain,  they  intended  to  carry  on  the  Fishery  again  at  said  Point 
Shirley,  and  employ  such  a  Number  of  Schooners  or  Vessells  as 
will  make  up  the  Tonage  mentioned  in  said  Lease,  and  hope  the 
Town  (if  they  now  take  said  Island  into  their  Possession)  will  then 
renew  said  Lease  to  them  for  the  Term  yet  remaining  unexpired, 
&  that  they  so  far  as  they  are  concerned  in  said  Lease  are  willing 


16  City  Document  No.  88. 

to  quit  said  Island  for  the  present  to  the  Town,  without  putting 
them  to  any  further  difficulties  about  it.  Whereupon  It  was  Voted 
that  the  Selectmen  as  soon  as  they  conveniently  can,  take  posses- 
sion of  said  Island,  aud  [420^.]  Hire  out  on  the  best  Terms 
they  can  by  Lease  or  otherwise  as  they  shall  judge  most  for  the 
Interest  of  the  Town. 

The  Town  considered  of  the  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz4. 
Whether  the  Selectmen  shall  be  Impower'd  to  Lease  out  the  Shops 
on  the  North  side  of  Faneuil-Hall  Markett  for  a  longer  Term  than 
Seven  Years,  and  after  some  Debate  thereon,  It  was  Voted  that 
the  Town  will  not  Impower  the  Selectmen  to  Lease  out  said  Shops 
for  any  longer  term  than  Seven  Years. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dismiss'd. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  twelfth  day 
of  March  A  D  1759. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Sam1.  Mather. 
The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  Read. 
Sundry  Laws  Read. 

John  Phillips  Esq1",  was  chose  Moderator  of  the  Meeting  an<l 
took  the  Oath  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving  Bills  of  Credit 
of  the  Governm'9.  of  Counecticutt  New-Hampshire  &  Rhode  Island 
as  required  by  the  Act  of  the  Province. 

Ezekiel  Goldthwait  was  unanimously  chose  Town  Clerk  for  the 
Year  ensuing  &  having  taken  the  Oath  required  by  the  Act  of  this 
Province  relating  to  his  paying  and  receiving  Bills  of  [421.] 
Credit,  of  the  other  Governments  took  the  Oath  of  Office  which 
was  Administred  to  him  by  John  Phillips  Esqr. 
Sundry  Petitions  Read. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  Choice  of  Seven  Selectmen,  and  the 
Votes  being  brought  in,  and  Sorted  it  appeared  that, 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esqr. 
Joseph  Jackson  Esqr. 
Mr.  Thomas  Gushing 
Mr.  Samuel  Hewes 
Mr.  John  Scollay 
Mr.  Benjamin  Austin 
Andrew  Oliver  junr.  EsqT. 
were  chose  and  they  thereupon  took  the  Oath  required  by  Law 
relating  to  their  receiving  and  paying  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  neigh- 
bouring Governments. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  12  Overseers  of  the  Poor, 
and  being  Sorted,  it  appeared  that, 

John  Phillips  Esq'. 
Mr.  Isaac  Walker 
Ebenezer  Storer  Esqr. 
Mr.  John  Barrett 
Mr.  John  Tudor 
Roy  all  Tyler  Esq'. 
Thomas  Flucker  Esq'. 


Boston  Town  Ee cords,  1759. 


17 


\>  Sworn 


Mr.  William  Phillips 

James  Pitts  Esqr. 

Mr.  Isaac  Smith 

Mr.  Benf.  Dolbeare 

Melatiah  Bourne  Esqr. 
were  chose  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Votes  were  brought  in  for  a  Town  Treasurer  upon  and 
viewing  them  it  appeared  that  Mr.  David  Jeffries  was  chose,  aud 
having  taken  the  Oath  [421£.]  Relating  to  his  paying  and  receiv- 
ing Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments  was  also  Sworn  to  the 
faithful  discharge  of  his  duty  in  that  Office. 

Voted  that  any  Person  chose  into  the  Office  of  a  Constable  for 
the  ensuing  Year  be  excus'd  on  his  paying  a  Fine  of  Four 
Pounds. 

Voted  that  twelve  Constables  be  chose  seperate  from  the  Collec- 
tors of  Taxes. 

Voted  that  the  Town  proceed  to  the  choice  of  twelve  Consta- 
bles, and  the  Votes  being  brought  in  and  Sorted  it  appeared 
that, 

Mess™.  John  Patten 

Francis  Salmon 

Tho8.  Barton  Simpkins 

Eliphalet  Parker 

Obadiah  Low 

Edwd.  Weld 

Augustus  Hale 

James  Thomas 

Will™.  Wait  Wallace 

John  Coverley 

Nath1.  Thayer  & 

John  Rogers 
were  chose  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Votes  were  brought  in  for  twelve  Fire  wards,  &  upon  Sort- 
ing them  it  appeared  that 

John  Phillips  Esq'. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esqr. 

Mr.  John  Scollay 

Royal!  Tyler  Esqr. 

Cap*.  Hopestill  Foster 

John  Rowe  Esqr. 

Cap*.  Newman  Greenough 

Tho8.  Flucker  Esqr. 

Cap*.  Solomon  Davis 

Mr.  Willm.  Cooper 

Mr.  Joseph  Jackson 

Mr.  Sam1.  Austin 
were  chose  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
[423.]  Mess".  Cornelius  Thayer 

Neal  Mclntire 

Thomas  Leverett 

Daniel  Parker 

Benjamin  Henderson 


Sworn 
Sworn 

Sworn 


18  City  Document  No.  88. 

Thomas  Downe  Sworn 

Nathaniel  Hard  Sworn 

Daniel  Henchman  Sworn 

James  Jackson  Sworn 

Oliver  Wiswall  Sworn 
Samuel  Barratt  & 

Jonathan  Amory  Sworn 

were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Markett  for  the  Year  ensuing. 


Mess". 

Isaac  White 
William  Pain 
William  Nichols 

William  Welch 

Sworn 

Robert  Ford 

Sworn 

Caleb  Ray 

! 

Clement  Collins 

Sworn 

Isaac  Vergoose 

Sworn 

James  Ridgway 

Andrew  Symmes 

Thomas  Bayley  & 

Sworn 

Moses  Eayres 

Sworn 

were 

chose  Surveyors  of  Boards  &ca.  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mess™, 

.  Nathaniel  Brown 
John  Lee 
Ebenezer  Lowell 
William  Blair  Townsend 
Afstar  Stoddard 
Benjamin  Harrod 
John  Forsyth 
David  Wheeler 
Joseph  Candish 
William  Gray 
John  Colburn  & 
William  Torrey 

were 

chose  Scavir 

igers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mess" 

.  Nathaniel  Gardner  & 
Joseph  Belknap 

were 

chose  Informers  of  Deer  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[423J.]     Messrs.  Caleb  Ray 

Nath1.  Wales 

Sworn 

Cap*.  Joseph  Russell 

William  Moore 

Sworn 

Benjamin  Russell  & 

Benjamin  Eustice  junr. 

Sworn 

were 

chose  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mr 

.  John  Gray 

was  chose  Surveyor  of  Hemp 

for  the  Year  ensu- 

ing. 
M1 

'.  John  Ranstead  was  chose  Hayward  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Sworn, 

Mess1' 

'.  David  Cutler  & 
Martin  Gray  were  chose 

Assay-masters  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Boston  Town  Records,  1759.  IS 

Mess™.  Cornelius  Thayer 

John  Allen 

Adino  Paddock  & 

James  Dawson 

were  chose  Sealers  of  Leather  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mess".  Thomas  Bradford  Sworn 

David  Flagg  Sworn 

Joshua  Cornish  &  Sworn 

John  McLane 

were  chose  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

In  margin.     Tything-men.     Nothing  done  thereon. 

Mess".  David  Spear 

John  Haskins 

Jona.  Jenkins 

Paul  Baxter 

Nathan  Spear 

Benja.  Barnard 

Benja.    Ballard  Sworn 

John  Hobbs 

Jona.  Barnard  Sworn 

John  Helyer 

were  chose  Cullers  of  Staves  &ca.  the  Year  ensuing, 

[423.]     The  Selectmen. 

T  .    f  Surveyors  of  ) 

In  margin  1     „.  /  }■ 

&      (     Highways    ) 

The  Selectmen's  Report  on  the  Acco'.  of  Mr.  John  Fenno  Keeper 
of  the  Granary  for  the  Year  past  as  Enter'd  in  his  Book  (and  on 
File  in  the  Town  Clerk's  Office)  Read  and  Voted  that  the  same  be 
Accepted,  and  that  Mr.  Fenno  be  accountable  to  the  Town  for  230 
Bushells  of  Corn,  and  90  bushells  of  Rye,  remaining  unsold  amount- 
ing to  £48.  2.  8.  and  also  for  the  Sum  of  £425.  17.  9f*.  Cash  now 
in  his  hands  exclusive  of  the  Sum  of  £26.  13.  4,  for  his  Salary  & 
Assistance  as  charged  in  said  Account,  which  is  hereby  allowed 
him. 

Thomas  Greene  &  Joseph  Jackson  Esqr9.  and  Mr.  John  Scollay 
are  chose  Purchasers  of  Grain  for  the  Year  ensuing,  and  they  are 
desired  and  impowered  to  give  all  needful  directions  to  the  Keeper 
of  the  Granary,  respecting  the  Quantities  of  Grain  to  be  sold, 
and  setting  the  price  thereof  from  time  to  time  as  occasion  shall 
require. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  County  Treasurer,  and 
they  were  Sealed  up  by  Constable  Rogers,  to  be  by  him  kept  and 
returned  to  the  nest  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  to  be 
held  for  this  County. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Clerk  of  Fanueil-Hall 
Markett,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that  Mr.  Abijah  Adams 
was  chose.     Sworn. 

The  Memorial  of  Sundry  Freeholders  &  Inhabitants  praying 
that  the  Wooden  Shops  on  the  North  side  of  Fanueil  Hall  Market 
m;iy  be  demolished  or  removed,  and  the  Dock  fill'd  up  for  the 
Reasons  therein  mentioned,  was  read  and  after  some  Debate  thereon, 

Voted  that  said  Memorial  be  Dismissal. 


20  City  Document  No.  88. 

[423i.]  The  Petition  of  Solomon  Kneeland  of  Boston  Leather 
dresser  setting  forth,  that  several  Years  ago  his  Brother  was  a 
Constable  in  Boston  and  had  some  Taxes  committed  to  him  to  Col- 
lect, but  as  there  was  some  part  thereof  he  failed  in  paying  to  the 
Town  Treasury,  the  Town  brought  an  Action  against  the  Petitioner's 
Father,  who  was  bound  for  his  Brother,  and  Recovered  Judgment 
against  him  for  the  deficiency,  took  out  Execution  thereupon  &  ex- 
tended the  same  on  a  strip  of  land  fronting  Orange  Street  at  the 
Southerly  part  of  the  Town,  measuring  sixteen  feet  in  the  front, 
which  adjoins  to  other  Lands  the  Petitioner  now  enjoys  as  part  of 
his  Father's  Estate,  that  the  Petitioner  now  rents  this  small  Peice  of 
Land  of  the  Town,  but  as  the  same  is  but  of  very  little  Service  to 
the  Town,  and  as  it  was  part  of  his  Father's  Estate,  he  would  pur- 
chase said  Peice  upon  such  Terms  as  may  be  agreed  upon,  & 
therefore  pray'd  the  Town  would  consider  of  the  Premisses  and 
Sell  him  the  same  for  such  a  Sum  of  Money  as  may  be  judged 
reasonable,  was  Read,  and  thereupon  It  was  Voted  that  the 
Selectmen  be  and  they  hereby  are  fully  Authorized  and  Im- 
powered  to  Sell  (if  they  see  fit)  said  Peice  of  Land  to  said 
Solomon  Kneeland,  for  such  a  Consideration  as  they  shall  judge 
reasonable,  and  they  are  desired  to  give  and  execute  to  him  a 
legal  Deed  for  the  same. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  for  widening  Ann  Street  and  repair- 
ing the  Pavement  there,  was  taken  into  Consideration  and  thereupon 
Voted  that  Royal  Tyler  &  Thomas  Greene  Esqrs.  and  Mr.  Jonathan 
Cushingbe  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Consider 
whether  it  will  be  more  convenient  to  the  Town  to  have  said  Street 
widened,  the  manner  of  doing  it,  [424.]  and  what  is  necessary 
for  the  Town  to  do  in  order,  to  effect  the  same,  and  for  repairing  the 
Pavement  there. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  that  some  Method  mav  be  taken  to 
reduce  the  great  Number  of  Licenced  Houses  was  taken  into  Con- 
sideration, and  thereupon  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  they 
hereby  are  desired  to  use  their  utmost  Endeavours  to  reduce  the 
Number  of  Licenced  Houses  in  Town  and  take  any  Method  they  shall 
think  necessary  and  proper  to  effect  the  same. 

Also  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  they  hereby  are  desired  to 
give  Notice  to  all  such  Persons  as  are  Licenced,  either  as  Innholders 
or  Retailers  that  if  they  Sell  Rum  or  any  Liquors  to  Negroes  or 
Mollatto  Servants,  after  the  Second  of  April  next  without  a  written 
Order  from  their  respective  Master  or  Mistresses,  they  will  not  be 
allowed  to  renew  their  Licences  any  more. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Twenty  Pounds  be  Allow'd  and  paid  to 
Cap'.  Isaac  Dupee  for  his  Salary  as  Clerk  of  Faneuil-Hall  Markett 
the  Year  past. 

The  Petition  of  Robert  Peirpoint  praying  that  a  further  Allow- 
ance may  be  made  him  for  carting  Stones  used  in  Paveing  the  Neck, 
was  read,  and  thereupon  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  make  such  a 
further  Allowance  to  said  Peirpoint  for  carting  said  Stones,  as  they 
shall  judge  reasonable. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  12th.  March  last,  on  the  Petition 
of  Edward  Holiday  for  the  Abatement  of  sundry  Taxes  made  Re- 


Boston  Town  Records,  1759.  21 

port  that  the  Taxes  of  sundry  Persons  particularly  named  in  said 
Report  amounting  to  £24.  4.  10.  ought  in  their  Opinion  to  be 
Abated,  and  after  some  Debate  thereon, 

Voted  that  said  Sum  of  £24.  4.  10.  be  &  hereby  is  Abated  said 
Holiday,  &  that  an  Allowance  of  said  sum  be  made  him. 

[424$.]  Also  Voted  that  said  Holiday  be  desired  to  use  his 
Endeavours  to  get  in  what  he  can  of  said  Taxes,  and  if  he  shall 
receive  any  part  thereof,  that  he  be  accountable  to  the  Town  for 
the  same. 

On  a  Motion  made  and  Seconded,  a  Question  was  put,  Whether 
the  Town  will  allow  nine  pence  on  the  pound  to  the  several  Gen- 
tleman, that  lent  Monies  to  the  Town  in  June  last  to  be  deducted 
out  of  their  Taxes,  besides  the  nine  pence  on  the  pound  allowed 
the  Collectors  on  the  whole  Sum  Collected  by  them.  Voted  in 
the  Afflrmative. 

Mess18.  William  Fairfield 
John  Kneeland 
Peter  Oliver 
Samuel  Edwards 
Benjamin  Church 
Isaac  White  and 
Joseph  Bradford 
were  chose  Assessors  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  nine  pence  on  the  Pound  be  and  hereby 
is  allowed  to  such  Persons  as  shall  be  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes 
the  Year  ensuing  for  all  such  Sums  as  they  shall  Collect,  provided 
they  pay  into  the  Town  Treasury,  one  half  of  the  whole  Sum  they 
are  Obliged  to  pay  him,  within  four  Months  from  the  time  they 
receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the  Assessors,  and  the  other  half  part 
in  three  Months  after,  and  also  pay  into  the  Province  and  County 
Treasuries  one  half  part  of  the  whole  Sums  the37  shall  be  obliged 
to  pay  them  respectively  in  seven  Months  from  the  time  they  shall 
receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the  Assessors  as  aforesaid,  and  the 
other  half  in  five  Months  after :  And  in  case  either  of  said  Collec- 
tors shall  fail  paying  in  manner  afored.  the  Collector  so  failing 
shall  not  be  Entitled  to  the  [425.]  aforesaid  Allowance  of  nine 
pence  on  the  pound  but  wholly  forfeit  the  same,  provided  also 
that  each  of  said  Collectors  give  Bond  with  sufficient  Sureties  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen,  for  the  faithful  discharge  of 
their  Duty  in  said  Office,  and  complying  with  this  Vote. 

Voted  that  the  Town  proceed  to  the  choice  of  four  Collectors  of 
Taxes,  and  the  Votes  being  brought  in  &  sorted,  it  appeared  that, 
Mess".  John  Ruddock 
John  Grant 
Jona.  Payson  & 
Samuel  Adams 
were  chose  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  be  aud  they  hereby  are  Impower'd  to 
Sit  on  every  Thursday  from  this  day,  untill  the  last  Thursday 
in  April  next  inclusive,  &  no  longer  for  making  an  Abatement  of 
the  Taxes  of  such  Persons  as  they  shall  judge  reasonable,  saving 
that  they  have  liberty  to  sit,  the  two  last  Weeks  in   November 


22  City  Document  No.  88. 

next,  to  Abate  (if  they  see  cause)  the  Taxes  of  all  suca  Persons 
as  shall  appear  to  them,  to  have  been  out  of  the  Province  and  so 
could  not  have  made  Application  to  them  for  an  Abatement  by  said 
last  Thursday  in  April. 

Voted  that  Mr.  bamuel  Phillips  Savage 
Mr.  William  Story 
Joseph  Dowse  Esqr. 
John  Rowe  Esq1.  & 
Mr.  Thomas  Tyler 
be   and   they  hereby   are   appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit   the 
Accompts  of  Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries,  and  also  the  Accompts  of  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  the  said  Committee  are  appointed  and 
im powered    to  inspect   every  particular  Accompt  of   the   Monies 
expended  for  the  use  of  the  Alms-house,  they  are  also  1m powered 
when  they  shall  Audit  said  Accompts,  to  allow  to  said  Overseers 
or  such   of  them,    as  shall   Advance   Monies  for   the   Relief   of 
[425^.]  The  Poor,  Interest  on  all  such   Sums  from  the  time 
Advanced,  'till  they  shall  Audit  said  Accompts. 

The  State  of  the  Town  Treasury,  as  exhibited  by  the  Town 
Treasurer,  and  on  file  was  Read. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz*.  "  In  what  manner  it  will  be 
best  to  Repair  the  Granary  in  the  Common."  was  considered  of, 
and  after  some  Debate  thereon,  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be,  & 
they  hereby  are  desired  to  Consider  of  the  best  way  of  repairing 
said  Granary  hear  the  proposals  that  shall  be  made  by  the  Honble. 
Thos.  Hancock  Esqr.  relating  to  the  same,  and  then  Alter  & 
Repair  said  Granary  in  such  manner  as  they  shall  think  proper. 

Voted  that  such  Matters  and  Things  as  remain  unfinished,  be 
and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  General  Town  Meeting  in  May 
next,  to  be  then  Considered  of,  and  Acted  upon. 

Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  &  hereby  is  given  to 
John  Phillips  Esqr.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  for  transacting 
the  Affairs  and  Buisness  thereof. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dismiss'd. 

[426.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  Warned  in  Public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Tuesday  the  fifteenth 
day  of  May  A.D.  1759. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Mather  Byles. 

The  Precept  &  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting,  Read. 

Sundry  Laws  Read. 

Joshua  Hensbaw  Esqr.  one  of  the  Selectmen  proposed  in  their 
Name  to  the  Inhabitants  Assembled  to  proceed  to  the  Choice  of 
one  or  more  Persons  to  represent  them  in  the  Great  and  General 
Court  or  Assembly  to  be  held  at  Boston  upon  Wednesday  the 
thirtieth  day  of  May  curr'.  in  order  thereto,  to  Consider  and 
Ascertain  the  number  of  Gentlemen  to  be  Elected,  accordingly  It 
was  Voted  to  proceed  to  the  Choice  of  four  Representatives,  and 
then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen,  that  no  Votes  would  be 
received  after  twelve  o'clock  but  the  Poll  then  closed. 

The  Votes  being  Collected,  the  Number  of  Voters  were  found 


Boston  Town  Records,  1759.  23 

to  be  469,  and  upon  Sorting  them,  it  appeared  that  the  three  fol- 
lowing G-entlemen  only  were  chose  viz*. 

Votes. 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Hubbard  EsqT 380 

Mr.  John  Tyng  & 291 

Benjamin  Prat  Esqr 302. 

which  being  declared,  the  Inhabitants  were  directed,  to  bring  in 
their  Votes  for  one  Representative,  which  they  accordingly  did, 
and  it  appeared  that  there  was  343  Votes,  and  upon  Sorting  them 
there  was  no  Choice,  then  the  Meeting  was  Adjourn'd  to  three 
o'Clock  in  the  Afternoon  for  the  Choice  of  another  Representative, 
the  Selectmen  at  the  same  time  declaring  that  the  Poll  would  be 
clos'd  at  four  o'Clock,  and  no  Votes  received  [426£.]  After,  and 
said  Meeting  is  Adjourned  to  that  time  accordingly. 

Three  o'Clock  in  the  Afternoon,  the  Inhabitants  assembled  and 
brought  in  their  Votes  for  one  Representative,  and  upon  Sorting 
them  it  appeared  that  no  Person  was  chose,  and  then  the  Inhabi- 
tants withdrew  and  brought  in  their  Vote  again,  and  upon  Sorting 
them  it  appeared  that 

Thomas  Flucker  Esq1,  was  chose. 

The  Inhabitants  then  brought  in  their  Vote  for  a  Moderator, 
and  upon  Sorting  them,  it  appeared  that, 

John  Phillips  Esq1,  was  chose. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz'.  To  determine  whether  the  Town 
will  remove  one  of  the  Shops  on  the  North  side  of  Faneuil-Hall 
Market,  in  order  to  have  a  Passage  way  from  thence  into  Union 
Street  by  Building  a  Bridge  or  in  any  other  manner  the  Town  shall 
judge  best  was  taken  into  Consideration  and  after  some  Debate 
thereon,  It  was  moved  and  Seconded  that  a  Commit;  ee  may  be 
appointed  to  make  Enquiry  whether  the  Town  have  a  right  to  open 
a  Passage  way  as  propos'd  and  erect  a  Bridge  there  without  preju- 
dicing the  Abutters,  that  they  Converse  with  the  Abutters  concern- 
ing it,  compute  the  whole  Expence  that  may  attend  the  effecting 
said  Bridge  Passage  way  &ca.  and  Report  the  same  at  the  pro- 
posed Adjournment  of  this  Meeting.  And  it  pass'd  in  the  Affir- 
mative, &  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  the  Committee  for  those 
purposes. 

The  Petition  of  Sundry  Inhabitants  for  paving  that  part  of  Cross 
Street  that  leads  into  Back  Street  was  Read,  and  Voted  that  the 
Selectmen  cause  said  Street  to  be  Pav'd  provided  the  Abutters  pay 
their  proportionable  part  as  [427.]  Usual,  the  same  lo  be  pav'd 
according  to  the  direction  of  the  Selectmen. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant,  Whether  the  Town  will  make  Ap- 
plication to  the  General  Court  for  Relief  as  to  their  proportion  of 
the  Public  Taxes,  was  taken  into  Consideiation,  and  after  some 
Debate  thereon,  Voted  that  Benjamin  Prat  Thomas  Greene  Richard 
Dana  James  Boutineau  Esq".  Doctr.  William  Clarke,  John  Rowe 
John  Ruddock  and  Royal  Tyler  Esq13.  Mr.  Oxenbridge  Thacher, 
Mr.  Thomas  Gushing,  Mr.  Isaac  Walker,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Bethune 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams  and  Andrew  Oliver  junr.  Esq1-,  be  and  they 
hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  make  such  Application  to  the 
General  Court  from  time  to  time  as  they  shall  judge  proper,  in 


24  City  Document  No.  88. 

order  to  obtain  Relief  as  to  the  proportion  of  the  Public  Taxes, 
and  in  the  Name  and  Behalf  of  the  Town  to  prefer  any  Petition  or 
Petitions  to  the  General  Court  as  said  Committee  shall  think  ef- 
fectual for  those  purposes. 

The  Town  took  into  Consideration  that  Article  in  the  Warrant 
viz4.  What  method  can  be  taken  for  Regulating  the  quantity  of 
Firewood  brought  into  Town  for  sale  by  Land  Carriage,  and  there- 
upon Voted  that  John  Rowe  Esqr.  Cap'.  William  Tayler  Mr. 
Robert  Auchmuty  Mr.  Samuel  Swift  and  Mr.  William  Story  be  & 
they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  what  Method 
they  apprehend  best  for  the  Town  to  take  for  ascertaining  the 
Measure  &  Quantity  of  Wood  bro't  to  Town  by  Land  Carriages, 
&  Report  their  Opinion  to  the  Town  at  the  propos'd  Adjournment 
of  this  Meeting." 

Voted  that  Mess".  William  Fairfield  Benjamin  Dolbeare  & 
Thomas  Foster  be  &  they  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to 
consider  in  what  manner  it  will  be  best  to  repair,  or  to  raise  the 
Brick  Wall  in  the  South  Burial  Place  on  the  back  of  the  Work- 
house &  the  Expence  of  doing  the  same,  &  Report  their  Opinion 
thereon  at  the  Adjournment  of  this  Meeting. 

(jiS^,]  Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Seven  Thousand  Pounds  be 
rais'd  by  a  Tax  upon  Polls  and  Estates  within  this  Town  for  the 
Relief  of  the  Poor,  and  defreying  other  necessary  Charges,  arising 
within  the  Town  the  Year  ensuing. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  Peleg  Wiswall  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North  Grammar 
School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly, 
and  to  Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  and  twenty  Pounds  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  Mr.  John  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of 
the  South  Grammar-School  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  quarterly  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
to  Mr.  Abia  Holbrook  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  the  Common  the  Year  ensuing,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
quarterly  and  to  Commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  to  Mr.  Zacha.  Hicks  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North 
writing  School  the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  paid  him  quarterly,  and  to 
Commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last  quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  Samuel  Holyoke  for  his  Salarj'  as  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  Queen-Street  for  the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  paid  him 
quarterly,  and  to  Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  to 
Mr.  John  Procter  for  his  Salary  as  a  Master  of  the  Writing  School 
in  Queen-Street  [428.]  The  ensuing  Year,  to  be  paid  him  quar- 
terly and  to  Commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  to  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Gardner  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  South  Grammar- 


Boston  Town  Eecoeds,  1759.  25 

School,  the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  paid  him  quarterly,  &  to  Com- 
mence at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pouucls  be  allow'd  &  paid  to  Mr. 
Ephrm.  Laugdon  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  North  Grammar 
School  the  eusuiug  Year,  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly,  &  to  Com- 
mence at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allow'd  &  paid  to  Mr. 
John  Vinal  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  Writing  School  in  the 
Common  the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly,  &  to  Com- 
mence at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allow'd  &  paid  to  Mr. 
John  Tileston  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  North  writing  School 
the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  paid  him  quarterly,  and  to  Commence  at 
the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allow'd  and  paid 
to  Mr.  David  Jeffries  for  his  Services  as  Treasurer  of  the  Town 
the  Year  past,  and  for  all  his  Expences  in  that  Office. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  14th.  March  AD  1758.  to  Audit 
the  Accompts  of  Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries,  now  report  that  they  have 
attended  that  Service  &  find  the  same  right  cast  and  well  vouch'd, 
in  which  he  charges  himself  with  Sundry  Fines,  Rents  and  other 
Incomes  of  the  Town,  also  with  the  Tax  of  £6000,  all  which 
amounts  (including  the  ballance  of  the  old  Aeco'.)  to  £7817, ,3,, 
4,, J.  and  the  said  Treasurer  discharges  himself  by  sundry  Abate- 
ments made  the  Collectors,  by  Draughts  made  by  the  Selectmen 
amounting  to  £2856. ...18.. ..9^.  and  by  Draughts  made  by 
the  Overseers  [429.]  of  the  Poor,  which  contain  the  Charges  of 
the  Alms-house .  and  Workhouse  amounting  to  £1811, ,8,, Of 
which  we  have  inspected  in  a  very  particular  manner  by  examin- 
ing every  particular  Voucher  produced  by  the  Overseers  for  the 
amount  of  that  Sum,  and  every  other  branch  of  Public  Charge,  all 
amounting  to  £7437,, 3,, 0^  by  which  it  appears  that  when  all 
the  Taxes  Rents  and  Incomes  of  the  Town  are  in,  the  ballance 
will  be  £380,, 0,, 4^  which  the  said  Treasurer  is  further  to 
Accompt  for,  as  appears  by  the  Tryal  ballance  of  said  Accompt 
given  in  by  said  Committee  and  on  File.  Which  Report  and 
Accompt  being  Read,  Voted  that  the  same  be,  and  hereby  is  Ac- 
cepted. 

Voted  that  this  Meeting  be  and  hereby  is  Adjourned  to  Tuesday 
the  12th.  of  June  next,  at  9  o'Clock  in  tiie  forenoon. 

June  12th.  1759  —  The  Town  mett  according  to  Adjourn- 
ment. 

The  Selectmen  appointed  a  Committee  the  sixteenth  of  May 
1758  to  Visit  the  Schools  now  made  the  following  Report  viz'. 

To  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Bos- 
ton in  Town  Meeting  Assembled  May  15th.  1759.  — 

Pursuant  to  the  Vote  of  the  Town  of  Boston  at  their  Meeting 
the  sixteenth  of  May  last  desiring  the  Selectmen  to  visit  the 
Schools  and  invite  such  Gentlemen  to  accompany  them  as  they 
should  think  proper,  do  now  Report, 

That  on  the  28th.  day  of  June  last  we  attended  that  Service  ac- 
companied by  the  following  Gentlemen  viz'. 


26  City  Document  No.  88. 

His  Excellency  Governor  Pownall 
His  Honour  Lieu1.  Govr.  Hutchinson 
The  Hon0.  Jacob  Wendell  Esqr. 

Samuel  Wells 

Samuel  Waldo 

Andrew  Oliver 

Stephen  Sewall 

John  Erving  Esq". 
The  Gentn.  the  Represent™,  of  Boston 
The  Gent",  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor. 
The  Revd.  Dr.  Joseph  Sewail 

Mr.  Ebenr  Pemberton 

Mr.  Sam1.  Mather 

Mr.  Andrew  Eliot 

Mr.  Sam1.  Cooper 

Mr.  Treasr.  Gray 

Joshua  Winslow  Esq'. 

Richard  Dana  Esq1-. 

Stephen  Greenleaf  Esq'. 

Samuel  Grant  Esq1. 

Mr.  Thomas  Hill 

Mr.  Treasr.  Jeffries 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 

Mr.  Oxenbridge  Thacher  & 

Mr.  William  Story 
And  found  in  the  South  Grammar  School  there  was  107  Scholars, 
in  the  South  Writing  School  230  Scholars,  in  the  Writing  School 
in  Queen  street  230  Scholars,  in  the  North  Grammar  School  35 
Scholars,  in  the  North  Writing  School  224  Scholars,  all  in  very 
good  Order.  Rend  and  Accepted  and  Voted  that  the  Gentlemen 
the  Selectmen  be  and  they  hereby  are  desired  to  visit  the  Schools 
this  present  Year,  and  invite  such  Gentlemen  to  accompany  them 
ns  they  shall  think  proper. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  15th  of  May  last  to  consider  what 
Method  can  be  taken  for  regulating  the  quantity  of  Firewood  brought 
into  Town  for  Sale,  by  Land  Carriage,  Reported,  that  they  had 
duly  considered  the  matters  to  them  Referr'd,  and  that  they  are 
convinced  that  the  Town  has  been  greatly  imposed  upon  in  the 
purchase  of  Wood  brought  to  Market  by  Land  Carriage  to  the 
amount  of  several  hundred  pounds  lawful  money  yearly  which  Im- 
position daily  increases  to  the  great  detriment  of  the  Poor  of  the 
Town,  and  to  prevent  which  it  is  their  Opinion  that  application  be 
made  to  the  General  Court  that  an  Act  be  pass'd  prohibiting  the 
Sale  of  any  Wood  brought  by  Land-Carriage  except  it  be  of  the 
length  of  four  feet  as  is  already  provided  by  Law  for  Wood 
brought  by  Water,  and  to  be  subject  to  an  Admeasurement 
by  such  [431.]  Person  or  Persons  as  shall  be  appointed  under 
Oath  by  the  Town  for  that  purpose.  Which  being  Read, 
Voted,  that  the  same  be  Accepted.  Also  Voted  that  John 
Rowe  Esqr.  Mess".  William  Tayler  Robert  Auchmuty  Samuel 
Swift  and  William  Story  be,  &  they  hereby  are  appointed  a 
Committee  to  preferr  a  Petition    to  the  General  Court,  praying 


Boston  Town  Records,  1759.  27 

that  a  Law  may  be  pass'd  for  the  several  purposes  mentioned 
in  the  aforesaid  Report. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  15th.  of  May  last  to  make  Enquiry 
whether  the  Town  have  aright  to  open  a  Passage  way  on  the 
North  side  of  Faneuil-Hall  Market  into  Union  Street,  and  erect  a 
Bridge  there  without  prejudice  to  the  Abutters,  &  to  converse  with 
the  Abutters  concerning  it,  &  compute  the  whole  Espence  that 
may  attend  the  effecting  said  Bridge  Passage  way  &ca.  do  now 
Report,  That  they  have  conferr'd  with  the  Abutters  who  strongly 
object  to  the  same  and  urjje  that  they  have  an  exclusive  right  to 
the  Dockage  therein,  but  that  they  had  not  time  thoroughly  to 
discuse  the  merits  of  their  said  Claims,  That  they  had  also  consid- 
ered what  would  be  the  Cost  of  building  the  proposed  Bridge  and 
find  it  would  be  upwards  of  One  hundred  Pounds  Lawful  money 
besides  the  loss  of  the  annual  rent  of  the  Shop  proposed  to  be 
demolished  and  therefore  they  can't  think  it  prudent  in  the  Town 
at  present  to  open  the  Passage-way  or  erect  the  Bridge  in  the 
manner  proposed,  which  being  Read,  Voted  that  the  same  be  and 
hereby  is  Accepted. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  15th.  day  of  May  last  to  consider 
in  what  manner  it  will  be  best  to  repair  or  to  raise  the  Brick- Wall 
in  the  South  Burial  place  on  the  back  of  the  Work-house,  and  the 
Expence  of  doing  the  same,  now  Report,  that  they  had  considered 
the  said  Affair  and  find  that  the  proprietors  of  the  Tombs,  by  their 
Grant  are  obliged  to  build  and  keep  in  Repair  the  Brick-Wall  at 
the  head  of  their  Tombs,  almost  all  -of  which  are  now  very  much 
out  of  Repair,  that  when  they  have  repaired  them,  the  Committee 
are  of  Opinion  that  if  the  Town  raise  the  Wall  four  feet  nine 
inches  higher,  one  hundred  and  four  feet  in  length,  it  will  [433.] 
Answer  the  proposed  design,  the  Cost  whereof  will  be  about 
Thirty  five  Pounds  Lawful  money,  which  being  Read  and  consid- 
ered of,  Voted  that  said  Report  be  not  accepted.  And  after  some 
debate  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  for  the  time  being  be  and  they 
hereby  are  desired  to  take  such  Methods  as  they  shall  judge  proper 
to  cause  the  Proprietors  of  such  Tombs  as  are  out  of  repair  from 
time  to  time  to  repair  the  Brick- Walls  belonging  to  the  Tombs  in 
said  Burial  place  according  to  the  Conditions  of  the  Grants  made 
when  liberty  was  given  for  erecting  said  Tombs.    . 

The  Committee  appointed  the  twelfth  day  of  March  last  to  con- 
sider the  Article  in  the  Warrant  for  widening  Ann-Street  and 
repairing  the  Pavement  there,  whether  it  will  not  be  more  conven- 
ient for  the  Town  to  have  said  Street  widened,  the  manner  of 
doing  it,  and  what  is  necessary  for  the  Town  to  do  in  order  to 
effect  the  same,  now  Report  as  their  Opinion  that  it  will  be  most 
convenient  for  the  Town  the  said  Street  shou'd  be  widened,  and 
that  the  front  of  the  House  belongiug  to  the  Heirs  of  Mr.  Jere- 
miah Allen  be  moved  back  from  the  Street  at  the  Northerly  end 
three  feet  eight  inches  and  that  from  from  thence  a  line  be  run 
South,  part  Westerly  so  as  to  cut  off  the  front  of  said  house  eight 
feet  at  the  extreme  part  of  the  Southerly  end,  and  that  the  Select- 
men be  impowered  to  draw  on  the  Treasury  for  a  Sum  not  exceed- 
ing forty  pounds  to  him  or  them  who  shall  effect  the  same  provided 


28  City  Document  No.  88. 

it  be  done  in  such  way  and  manner  as  they  shall  approbate,  and 
that  the  Town  be  at  no  further  Charge  respecting  this  removal. 
As  to  paving  the  said  Street  the  Committee  are  further  of  Opinion 
that  it  be  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  Selectmen  which  Report  was 
Read,  and  thereupon 

[433.]     Voted  that  the  same  be  and  hereby  is  Accepted. 

Also  voted  that  the  Selectmen  for  the  time  being  be  and  they 
hereby  are  directed  and  impowered  to  give  a  Draft  on  the  Town 
Treasurer  for  a  sum  not  exceeding  Forty  pounds  to  such  Person 
or  Persons  to  whom  the  same  shall  be  due  when  said  Street  shall- 
be  widened  in  the  manner  mentioned  in  the  Report  aforesaid,  and 
that  the  Town  be  at  no  further  Charge  respecting  the  same,  and 
that  the  paving  said  Street  be  left  to  the  discretion  of  said  Select- 
men. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz*  Whether  the  Town  will  take  at 
their  risque  such  Tickets  in  Boston  Lottery  N°.  seven,  as  may  re- 
main unsold  on  the  day  that  shall  be  fixed  by  the  Managers  for 
drawing  it."  was  taken  into  Consideration,  And  thereupon  Voted 
that  the  Town  will  take  at  their  risque  said  Ticketts  accordingly. 

Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  is  given  to 
the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for  transacting  the  Buisness  thereof. 

Voted  that  all  Matters  &  Things  that  are  unfinished  at  this  Meet- 
ing be  &  hereby  are  referr'd  over  to  the  Meeting  called  this  day 
by  a  new  Warrant  to  be  then  Acted  upon. 

And  then  this  Meeting  was  dismiss'd. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  &  warned  in  Public  Town  Meet- 
ing Assembled  at  Faneuil-Hall  on  Tuesday  the  Twelfth  day  of 
June  AD  1759 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  Read. 

The  Precept  for  choosing  one  Representative  in  the  room  of  the 
Honble.  Thomas  Hubbard  Esqr.  Read. 

[434.]  The  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  pursuant  to 
said  Precept  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  one  Representative  and 
brought  in  their  Votes  and  upon  Sorting  and  Counting  'em  it 
appeared  that  Royall  Tyler  Esqr.  was  chose,  which  being  declared, 

The  Town  chose  John  Phillips  Esqr.  for  the  Moderator  of  the 
Meeting  to  transact  the  other  Buisness  mentioned  in  the  Warrant. 

Voted  that  the  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  3  o'clock  in  the  After- 
noon. 

June  12th  1759.  Three  o'Clock   P.M.  The  Town  mett. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  for  considering  of  some  Method  to 
prevent  the  Engrossing  of  Hay  brought  by  Water  Carriage  was 
debated,  &  Voted  that  said  Article  be  dismiss'd. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz1,  whether  it  will  not  be  for  the 
Interest  of  the  Town  to  shut  up  Faneuil-Hall  Markett  for  such  a 
time  as  may  be  thought  proper,  was  considered,  and  after  a  con- 
siderable Debate  thereon,  Voted  that  Faneuil-Hall  Markett  be 
shut  up  for  the  space  of  six  Months  from  this  clay. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz1.  To  determine  whether  such  of 
the  Inhabitants  as  do  not  give  in  to  the  Assessors  a  Valuation  of 


Boston  Town  Records,  1759.  29 

their  Estates,  shall  be  Abated  any  part  of  the  Tax  Assess'd  'em, 
was  taken  into  Consideration,  and  thereupon  It  was  Voted,  that 
the  Assessors  be  &  they  hereby  are  directed  not  to  abate  any  part 
of  the  Tax  of  such  of  the  Inhabitants,  as  do  not  give  or  send  in 
to  them  upon  Oath  a  List  or  Valuation  of  their  Rateable  Estates 
within  the  time  said  Assessors  shall  fix  for  bringing  in  the  same, 
except  of  such  of  the  Inhabitants  as  were  not  in  the  Province 
within  the  time  limited  by  the  Notification  of  the  Assessors  fur 
doing  it.  Also  Voted  that  this  Order  or  Vote  shall  not  be  con- 
strued to  extend  [435.]  In  such  manner  as  to  abridge  the 
power  the  Assessors  have  by  the  standing  Law  of  the  Province 
for  releiving  of  Poor  Persons  in  their  Taxes. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz1.  "  Whether  the  Town  will  re- 
consider their  Vote  pass'd  in  May  last,  for  raising  the  Sum  of 
Seven  Thousand  Pounds  for  defreying  the  Expences  of  the  cur- 
rent year  was  Considered  of,  and  after  some  debate  thereon,  It 
was  Voted  that  only  the  Sum  of  Four  Thousand  five  hundred 
Pounds  be  rais'd  by  a  Tax  on  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  for  defreying  the  Expences  of  the  current  year, 
the  Vote  pass'd  in  May  last  notwithstanding. 

Voted  that  Five  Pounds  on  the  Hundred  be  and  hereby  is  al- 
lowed to  such  Gentlemen  as  have  or  shall  lend  Money  to  the 
Town,  the  same  to  be  deducted  out  of  their  Tax,  and  the  Col- 
lectors are  hereby  ordered  to  discount  after  the  rate  of  five  p  Cent 
to  such  persons,  as  shall  lend  any  Sums  of  Money  to  the  Town, 
out  of  their  Tax  when  they  receive  the  same. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dismiss'd. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualifyed  and  warned  in  Public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil-Hall  on  Friday  the  27th.  of  July 
AD  1759. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  Read. 

John  Phillips  Ksqr.  was  chose  Moderator. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  Act  on  the  Petition  of  many  Inhabitants 
praying  that  Faneuil-Hall  Markett  [436.]  May  be  open'd,  and 
after  a  Considerable  debate  thereon,  It  was  moved  &  seconded, 
that  a  Question  be  put,  viz'.  Whether  said  Markett  shall  be  now 
open'd,  and  that  it  be  determined  in  the  following  manner  viz'. 
such  of  the  Inhabitants  as  are  for  opening  said  Markett  write  Yea, 
and  such  as  are  not  write  Nay,  and  that  the  Votes  be  so  received, 
and  said  Question  being  put,  it  pass'd  in  the  Affirmative,  there- 
upon the  Inhabitants  withdrew  and  brought  in  their  Votes,  &  upon 
Sorting  'em  it  appeared  there  were  158  Yeas  &  132  Nays,  The 
Moderator  then  declared  that  by  Vote  Faneuil-Hall  Markett  is  to 
be  now  open'd. 

The  Town  then  Voted  that  Mr.  Oxenbridge  Thacher  John  Rud- 
dock Esqr.  Richard  Dana  Esqr.  Cap1.  Nathaniel  Greenwood  and 
Joshua  Winslow  Ksqr.  be  &  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  consider  what  additional  Rules  and  Orders,  to  those  now 
in  force  may  be  necessary  to  be  pass'd  by  the  Town  for  the  better 
regulating   Faneuil-Hall   Markett,    and    reducing   the    exorbitant 


30  City  Document  No.  88. 

price  of  Provisions  ;  and  said  Committee  are  desired  to  make  Re- 
port of  their  doings  hereon  at  the  intended  Adjournment  of  this 
Meeting. 

Voted  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Friday  the  third  day 
of  August  next  at  ten  o'Clock  in  the  forenoon. 

Friday  August  the  3d.  1759  The  Town  mett  according  to  Ad- 
journment. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  27th.  of  July  last  to  Consider  of 
further  regulations  for  Faneuil-Hall  Markett,  Report  that  they 
have  attended  that  service  and  apprehend  the  principal  cause  a 
Market  can  be  supposed  to  be,  of  the  raising  the  price  of  Pro- 
visions arises  from  the  too  long  continuance  of  it,  and  from  the 
Markett  People's  being  allowed  to  stay  till  one  o'Clock  and  that  if 
the  Market  were  shut  at  eleven,  it  would  be  an  advantage  both  to 
those  who  usually  buy  at  the  Markett,  and  those  who  depend  on 
being  supplyed  at  their  own  Houses.  As  the  Sellers  would  sooner 
[437.]  Take  up  with  the  price  offered  by  the  one  and  sooner 
disperse  to  supply  the  other.  But  as  the  shutting  the  Maikett- 
house  only,  wou'd  rather  increase  the  Nusances  of  the  People  with 
their  Teams  and  Horses  on  the  outside  of  the  house,  and  in  off  ct 
continue  the  Market  there  it  will  be  necessary  to  make  it  penal  for 
any  to  buy  out  of  the  Market  hours  in  Dock  Square.  They  have 
therefore  drawn  a  Bye-Law  to  take  in  these  proposals  which  th«y 
herewith  present,  and  as  they  are  new,  and  therefore  shou'd  be 
tried  before  they  are  fixed,  the  Law  is  drawn  so  as  to  be  in  force 
for  four  Months  only,  in  which  time  their  useful  or  contrary  effect 
may  be  better  determined.  Which  Report  was  Read  and  Accepted, 
and  the  Bye-Law  referr'd  too  in  said  Report  was  Read  several 
times,  which  is  as  follows. 

For  the  better  Regulation  of  Faneuil-Hall  Markett. 

It  is  Ordered  and  Voted  that  from  and  after  the  twenty  first  day 
of  August  current,  and  from  thence  for  the  space  of  four  Months 
the  Market  of  Faneuil-Hall  shall  be  daily  shut  up  at  eleven  o'Clock 
in  the  forenoon,  and  shall  not  be  open  any  more  that  day  excepting 
on  Saturdays  in  the  Afternoon,  and  on  other  Afternoons  preceed- 
ing  days  set  apart  by  this  Government  for  religious  Service.  And 
that  during  that  space  of  four  Months  no  Inhabitant  of  this  Town 
shall  buy  any  Provisions  out  of  these  Markett  hours  in  any  part  of 
Dock  square,  as  described  in  these  limits  following,  to  wit,  be- 
ginning at  the  Swing  Bridge  running  thence  to  Mr.  Henderson 
Inches  Warehouse,  from  thence  to  the  Corner  house  occupied  by 
Mr.  Peter  Minot,  thence  to  the  Corner  house  occupied  by  Mr. 
Peace  Cazneau,  thence  to  the  Dwelling  house  now  improved  by 
Mess".  John  &  Jonathan  Amory,  thence  to  the  Dwelling  house  of 
the  Hon°.  Eliakim  Hutchinson  Esqr.  thence  to  the  [438.]  Store 
improved  by  Mr.  Timothy  Newell  thence  to  the  Corner  of  the 
Store  improved  by  the  Hon0.  Thomas  Hubbard  Esqr.  and  from 
that  Corner  to  the  Swing  Bridge  aforesaid,  unless  the  Buyer  be  an 
Inhabitant  within  those  Limits.  And  every  Inhabitant  of  this 
Town  for  each  breach  of  this  Law  shall  forfeit  the  Sum  of  five 


Boston  Town  Records,  1760.  31 

shillings,  and  if  such  Buyer  be  a  Son  under  Age  or  Servant,  the 
penalty  shall  be  paid  by  his  Parent  or  Master  or  Mistress. 

And  after  due  Consideration  thereof  Voted  that  said  Bye-Law 
be  and  hereby  is  pass'd,  and  that  the  Town-Clerk  prepare  an 
Attested  Copy  of  the  same  &  present  it  to  the  Court  of  Sessions 
to  be  held  at  Boston  on  Tuesday  the  14th.  of  August  instant  for 
their  Approbation  and  Allowance. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  appoint  one  or  more 
Persons  to  observe  all  such  as  may  be  guilty  of  the  Breach  of  said 
Law  and  prosecute  them  for  the  same. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dismiss'd. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  Public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil-Hall  on  Monday  the  tenth  day  of 
March  AD  1760. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Mr.  Andrew  Eliot. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting    .     .     Read. 

Sundry  Laws Read. 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq1,  is  chose  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting,  and  took  the  Oath  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving  Bills 
of  Credit  of  the  [439.]  Governments  of  Connecticut  New  Hamp- 
shire &  Rhode  Island  as  required  by  the  Act  of  the  Province. 

Ezekiel  Goldthwait  was  unanimously  chose  Town  Clerk  for  the 
Year  ensuing,  and  having  taken  the  Oath  rela.  to  his  receiving  and 
paying  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments  took  the  Oath  of 
Office  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  Duty,  which  were  Admin- 
lstred  to  him  by  John  Phillips  Esqr. 

Sundry  Petitions  Read. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  Seven  Selectmen  and  the 
Votes  being  brought  in  and  Sorted  it  appeared  that 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esqr. 
Joseph  Jackson  Esqr. 
Mr.  Thomas  Cushing 
M.  Samuel  Hewes 
Mr.  John  Scollay 
Mr.  Benf  Austin  & 
Andrew  Oliver  junr.  Esq1-, 
were  chose,  and  they  took  the  oath  relating  to  their  receiving  and 
paying  in  Bills  of  the  other  Governments  as  required  by  Law. 

John  Rowe  Esqr.  made  a  motion  which  was  Seconded,  That  as 
his  Excellency  Governour  Pownall  is  appointed  by  His  Majesty 
Goveruour  of  the  Province  of  South  Carolina,  and  his  Excellency 
will  soon  leave  this  Province,  that  the  Mind  of  the  Town  may  be 
known  whether  they  will  present  an  Address  to  his  Excellency  to 
return  him  Thanks  for  the  many  great  and  important  Services  he 
has  done  the  Province  during  his  Administration,  Thereupon  it 
was  unanimously  Voted  that  an  Address  be  presented  to  his 
Excellency  accordingly,  and  the  Selectmen  having  prepared  one, 
it  was  Read,  and  is  in  the  Words  following  viz1. 

[440.]  To  his  Excellency  Thomas  Pownall  Esqr.  Captain 
General   Governour  and   Commander  in  Chief   in  and  over  His 


32  City  Document  No.  88. 

Majesty's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  in  New  England, 
Vice  Admiral  of  the  same. 
May  it  please  your  Excellency, 

We  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  at 
our  Annual  Meeting  Assembled  beg  leave  with  great  respect  and 
the  sincerest  good  Wishes  to  Address  your  Excellency  on  3-our 
intended  departure  from  us. 

While  we  Congratulate  your  Excellency  upon  the  repeated  marks 
of  our  Sovereign's  approbation  &  acceptance,  your  important 
services  to  His  Majesty's  Interest,  and  to  this  Province,  at  the 
same  time  permit  us  to  assure  you,  that  the  People  who  enjoy  the 
fruit  of  these  Services  are  not  insensible  of  them  nor  of  their 
Obligations  to  your  Excellency. 

Your  unwearied  attention  to  the  Security  and  Welfare  of  this 
whole  Community,  your  tender  regard  to  our  Civil  &  Religious 
Rights,  the  singular  Oeconomy  which  3'ou  have  preserved  in  all 
Public  Expences,  and  your  Zealous  Care  that  the  People's  Money 
should  be  employed  for  His  Majesty's  Real  Service,  and  the 
People's  benefit,  the  Patronage  you  have  afforded  to  our  Trade 
and  Commerce,  and  the  kind  concern  which  you  have  always  ex- 
pressed for  the  Interest  of  this  Metropolis  in  all  it's  Branches 
demand  our  Warm  &  respectful  acknowledgments,  and  must  leave 
in  our  minds  a  long  and  grateful  Remembrance  of  3-our  Adminis- 
tration   Touch'd  with  this  Retrospect  may  we  be  allowed  to 

sajT  that  we  cannot  but  regard  with  some  mixture  of  regret  that 
fresh  token  of  the  Royal  Favour  to  your  Excellency  which  so 
early  removes  you  to  another  Province. 

We  ardently  wish  your  Excellency  under  the  Care  &  Blessing 
of  Heaven  a  prosperous  Voyage  and  that  your  Talents  may  long 
continue  to  be  employed  with  Honour  and  Success  in  the  Service 
of  His  Majesty  &  for  the  public  Good.  And  thereupon  it  was 
unanimously  Voted  that  the  same  be  accepted,  and  that  the  Town 
Clerk  prepare  a  fair  [441.]  Copy  of  the  said  Address,  and  that 
the  Honble.  Thomas  Hubbard  Esqr.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting, 
&  the  Gentn.  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  wait  on  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  and  in  the  Name 
of  the  Town  present  said  Address  to  him. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Twelve  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  and  upon  Sorting  'em  it  appeared  that, 

John  Phillips  Esqr. 

Mr.  Isaac  Walker 

Ebenezer  Storer  Esq1".  Excus'd. 

Mr.  John  Barrat 

Mr.  John  Tudor 

Royall  Tyler  Esqr. 

Thomas  Flucker  Esqr. 

Mr.  William  Phillips 

James  Pitts  Esqr.  Excus'd 

Mr.  Isaac  Smith 

Mr.  Benja  Dolbeare 

Melatiah  Bourn  Esqr. 
ware  chose  for  the  Year  ensuing. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1760.  33 

The  Votes  were  brought  in  for  a  Town  Treasurer  and  upon 
reviewing  'em  it  appeared  that  Mr.  David  Jeffries  was  chose,  and 
having  taken  the  Oath  relating  to  his  paying  and  receiving  Bills  of 
Credit  of  the  neighbouring  Governments  took  the  Oath  for  the 
faithful  discharge  of  his  Duty. 

Voted  that  twelve  persons  be  chose  as  Constables  for  the  Year 
ensuing  separate  from  the  Collectors  of  Taxes. 

Voted  that  any  Person  chose  into  the  Office  of  a  Constable  for 
the  ensuing  Year  be  excus'd  from  Serving  on  his  paying  a  Fine  of 
Four  Pounds. 

Voted  that  the  Town  proceed  to  the  choice  of  twelve  Constables 

'mmediately  and  the  Vote  being  in  it  [442.]  Appeared  that 

Mess18.  Augustus  Hale     .     .     .     .     Sworn 

Nath1.  Thayer      ....     Sworn 

Francis  Salmon    ....     Sworn 

Wm  Waite  Wallis     .     .     .     Sworn 

John  Rogers Sworn 

James  Thomas     ....     Sworn 

John  Lis  well Sworn 

Samuel  Bradley  junr.  .  .  Sworn 
Abraham  Howard  .  .  .  Sworn 
Joseph  Gendall  ....  Sworn 
Eliphalet  Parker       .     .     .     Sworn 

John  Mills Excus'd 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Clerk  of  Faneuil  Hall 
Market,  and  upon  Sorting  'em  it  appeared  that  Abijah  Adams  was 
chose  Clerk  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Ebenezer  Storer  and  James  Pitts  Esq™,  who  are  chose  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor  pray'd  the  Town  will  excuse  them  from  any 
further  attendance  in  that  Office,  Voted  that  they  be  Excus'd 
accordingly,  Also  Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
is  given  to  said  Ebenezer  Storer  and  James  Pitts  Esq",  for  the 
good  Services  they  have  done  the  Town  as  Overseers  of  the  Poor 
for  some  Years  past. 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  two  Overseers  of 
the  Poor  in  the  room  of  Ebenezer  Storer  and  James  Pitts  Esqrs. 
who  are  Excus'd  and  upon  sorting  'em  it  appeared  that 
Mr.  Samuel  Dexter  & 
Mr.  Jona.  Mason,  were  chose. 
The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz'.  To  know  whether  the  Town 
will  give  Instructions  to  their  Representatives  to  use  their  En- 
deavours at  the  next  Meeting  of  the  General  Court  that  some 
proper  person  be  appointed  as  an  Agent  for  the  Province  at  the 
Court  of  Great  Britain  to  manage  [443.]  the  many  Affairs  of 
Importance  relative  to  the  Province  that  now  are  or  may  be  there 
depending,"  was  taken  into  Consideration,  and  thereupon  it  was 
Voted  that  Mess".  Samuel  Adams  William  Cooper  Oxenbridge 
Thacher  John  Phillips  Esqr.  and  Nathaniel  Greenwood  be  and 
they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  what  is  best 
for  the  Town  to  do  thereon,  and  Report  the  same  to  the  Town. 

The  Petition  of  Sundry  Inhabitants  that  the  Assessors  may  be 
impowered  to  abate  the  Taxes  of  such  of  the  Inhabitants  as  were 


34 


City  Document  No.  88. 


out  of  the  Province,  or  had  not  setled  their  Books,  and  could  not 
give  in  a  List  of  their  Rateable  Estates  to  the  Assessors  within  the 
time  limited  by  the  Vote  in  June  last,  provided  they  make  it  appear 
to  said  Assessors  that  they  are  Over-rated,"  was  Read,  and  taken 
into  Consideration  &  thereupon  Voted  that  said  Petition  be  dis- 
missed. 

Voted  that,  John  Rowe  Esqr.  Mr.  William  Phillips  and  Melatiah 
Bourn  Esqr.  be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to 
examine  the  Accompts  of  the  Managers  of  Boston  Lotteries  N03. 
Seven  Eight  and  Nine,  and  they  are  desired  to  make  Report  thereon 
to  the  Town  at  the  Meeting  in  May  next. 

Messrs.  Cornelius  Thayer      .     .     .     Sworn 
Nathaniel  Parker      .     .     .     Sworn 
Nathaniel  Hurd   .... 
Daniel  Henchman     .     .     .     Sworn 
Neal  M°.Intire     ....     Sworn 
Thomas  Downe   ....     Sworn 
Benja.  Henderson      .     .     . 
William  Bowes    ....     Sworn 
James  Jackson    .... 
Oliver  Wis  wall    ....     Sworn 
Samuel  Barrat  &      .     .     .     Sworn 
Houghton  Perkins    .     .     .     Sworn 
were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
[444.]     Mess13.  William  Nichols     .     .     . 

William  Welch ....  Sworn 
Isaac  Vergoose  .  .  .  Sworn 
Robert  Ford  ....  Sworn 
Andrew  Symmes  .  .  .  Sworn 
Clement  Collins  .  .  .  Sworn 
William  Paine  .... 
Thomas  Bailey  .... 

Caleb  Ray 

John  Longley    ....     Sworn 
Nathaniel  Wales  &     .     . 
John  Greenough    .     .     .     Sworn 
were  chose  Surveyors  of  Boards  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess".  Aftar  Stoddard 

Joseph  Webb  jun\ 
George  Jeffries 
Andrew  Hall 
Benjamin  Edes 
John  Brown 
John  Forsyth 
Nath1.  Thayer 
Edward  Holiday 
Nich0.  Gray 
Ebenezer  Lowell  & 
Henry  Perkins 
were  chose  Scavingers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mess".  Obadiah  Low  Sworn 

Story  Dawes 


Boston  Town  Kecokds,  1760.  35 

Nath1.  Wales 

William  Moore 

Onesip8.  Tileston  & 

Caleb  Ray 
were  chose  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mr.  John  Gray 
was  chose  Surveyor  of  Hemp  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
[445.]     Messrs.  Nathaniel  Gardner  & 
Joseph  Belknap 
were  chose  Informers  of  Deer  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mr.    John    Ranstead    was    chose    Hayward     for     the     Year 
ensuing. 

Voted  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  'till  to  Morrow  Morning 
nine  o' Clock  in  the  forenoon. 

Tuesday  Morning  nine  o'Clock  the  Town  met  according  to  Ad- 
jourment. 

John  Phillips  Esq1. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq1 

John  Rowe  Esqr. 

Mr.  John  Scollay 

Royal  Tyler  Esqr. 

Cap4.  Newman  Greenough 

Cap*.  Solomon  Davis 

Mr.  Joseph  Jackson 

Mr.  Samuel  Austin 

Mr.  William  Cooper 

Cap*.  Hopestill  Foster 

Mr.  John  Mico  Wendell 
were  chose  Firewards  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

David  Greenleafe     .     .     .     Sworn 
Mess™.  William  Fairfield 

John  Kneeland 

Samuel  Edwards 

Benjamin  Church 

Joseph  Bradford 

William  Torrey  & 

Jonathan  Brown 
were  chose  Assessors  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mess".  Cornelius  Thayer  Sworn 

Robert  Hewes  Sworn 

Adino  Paddock  & 

Jona.  Blake  Sworn 

were  chose  Sealers  of  Leather  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
[446.]     MessrS.  John  Ranstead 

John  Gill 

John  Cooper  & 

Tbomas  Palfrey 
were  chose  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Nothing  done  thereon.     In  margin.     [Tything-Men.] 
Mess™.  David  Spear 

Benjamin  Barnard  Sworn. 

Nathan  Spear 


36  City  Document  No.  88. 

Robert  Treat 

John  Askins 

Edward  Cowell 

Samuel  Barnard 

Joshua  Pico 

John  Hobbs 

John  Helyer 
were  chose  Cullers  of  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Selectmen.  In  margin.  [Surveyors  of  Highways.] 
Voted  that  the  Sum  of  nine  pence  on  the  pound  be  and  hereby 
is  allowed  to  such  Persons  as  shall  be  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes 
for  the  Year  ensuing  for  all  such  Sums  as  they  shall  Collect,  pro- 
vided they  pa}1,  into  the  Town  Treasury  one  half  part  of  the 
whole  Sum  they  are  obliged  to  pay  him  within  four  Months  from 
the  time  they  receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the  Assessors,  and  the 
other  half  part  in  three  Months  after,  and  also  pay  into  the  Prov- 
ince and  County  Treasuries  one  half  part  of  the  whole  Sum  they 
shall  be  obliged  to  pay  them  respectively  in  Seven  Months  from 
the  time  they  shall  receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the  Assessors  as 
aforesaid,  and  the  other  half  part  in  five  Months  after ;  and  in 
Case  either  of  said  Collectors  shall  fail  paying,  in  the  manner  as 
aforesaid,  the  Collector  so  failing  shall  not  be  entitled  to  the 
aforesaid  Allowance  of  nine  pence  on  the  pound  but  wholly  forfeit 
the  same,  provided  [447.]  Also  that  each  of  said  Collectoi^s  give 
Bond  with  sufficient  Sureties  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  Duty  in  said  Office,  and  comply- 
ing with  this  Vote. 

MessM.  John  Ruddock  Esqr. 
Mr.  John  Grant 
Mr.  Jonathan  Payson 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams, 
were  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Committee  appointed  yesterday  to  consider  whether  it  is 
best  for  the  Town  to  give  Instructions  to  their  Representatives  to 
use  their  Endeavours  at  the  next  Meeting  of  the  General  Ccurt 
that  some  proper  Person  be  appointed  as  an  Agent  for  the  Province 
at  the  Court  of  Great  Britain  to  manage  the  many  Affairs  of  Im- 
portance relative  to  the  Province,  that  now  are  or  may  be  there 
depending,  Report, 

That  inasmuch  as  the  General  Assembly  have  so  lately  dismiss'd 
their  Agent  it  would  be  premature  for  the  Town  positively  to  in- 
struct their  Representatives  to  use  their  Endeavours  at  the  next 

Meeting  of  the  Court  that  another  may  be  chosen But  as  it 

is  highly  probable,  that  the  Court  will  in  their  own  Wisdom  judge 
it  proper  to  enter  into  the  Consideration  of  so  important  a  matter, 
the  Committee  think  it  expedient  that  the  Town  should  express 
their   Mind   to   their   Representatives   relative   to  such   a  Choice 

and    accordingly  Report  the   following  Draft. To  Mr.  John 

Tyng  Thomas  Fluc&er  Esq1.  Benjamin  Prat  and  Royal  Tyler 
Esqrs. 

Gentlemen, 

When  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  1760.  37 

made  choice  of  you  to  represent  them  in  the  General  Assembly  they 
entrusted  you  with  all  their  Power  to  Act  in  the  Affairs  of  Govern- 
ment according  to  your  best  discretion,  and  althd.  they  have  no 
room  to  doubt  but  that  you  have  consulted  and  will  continue  to 
consult  [448.]  the  general  Interest  of  the  Province  and  of  this 
Town  so  considerable  a  part  of  it ;  yet  always  reserving  to  them- 
selves the  liberty  of  Communicating  their  Sentiments  to  their  Re- 
presentatives as  they  shall  judge  convenient,  they  take  occasion  at 
this  their  annual  Town  Meeting  regularly  called  to  instruct  you 
-with  regard  to  an  Agency  for  the  Province  at  the  Court  of  Great 
Britain. 

When  you  consider  how  large  a  share  of  the  Public  Burden  is 
born  by  your  Constituents  you  will  not  wonder,  that  they  are 
greatly  Concerned  that  every  prudent  method  may  be  taken  to 
make  it  more  light :  And  while  they  are  sensible  of  the  Importance 
of  the  many  Affairs  relative  to  the  Province  which  are  or  may  be 
depending  at  the  Court  of  Great  Britain,  they  would  strongly  rec- 
ommend it  as  a  subject  of  your  Enquiry  whether  such  Affairs  may 
not  be  successfully  Conducted  there  with  less  Expeuce  than  in  time 
past. 

Should  the  General  Court  in  their  Wisdom  think  proper  to  enter 
into  the  Consideration  of  this  matter,  your  Constituents  would  ex- 
press to  you  their  Opinion,  That  by  appointing  a  Gentleman  who  re- 
sides at  or  near  the  City  of  London  the  heavy  Charge  of  wholly  sup- 
porting an  Agent  sent  from  this  Province  would  be  saved  to 
the  People. 

Accordingly  you  are  desired  to  use  your  best  Endeavours  that 
some  such  Gentleman  may  be  chosen  whose  Integrity  and  Abilities 
are  well  known  there,  and  who  may  carry  an  Influence  as  well  by 
his  own  Character  Station  and  Connections  as  from  the  Regard 
which  may  be  paid  to  him  as  the  Representative  of   a  Province 

Nor  do  we  suppose  it  will  be  difficult  to  find  such  a  Person, 

whose  natural  Attachments  to  our  Religious  as  well  as  Civil  Rights, 
together  with  the  Qualifications  before  hinted  at  may  recommend 
him  to  your  Confidence  and  choice.  Which  Report  being  Read 
and  Considered  of  it  is  thereupon 

Voted  that  the  same  be  and  hereby  is  accepted,  &  the  Town 
Clerk  is  directed  to  give  a  fair  Copy  thereof  to  each  of  the  Gentle- 
men the  Representatives  of  the  Town. 

[449.]  The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  County  Treas- 
urer, and  they  were  Sealed  up  by  Constable  Thomas  to  be  by  him 
kept  and  returned  to  the  next  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  to  be 
held  for  this  County. 

The  Selectmen's  Report  on  the  Acco'.  of  Mr.  John  Fenno 
Keeper  of  the  Granary  for  the  Year  past  as  Entered  in  his  Book 
(and  on  File  in  the  Town  Clerk's  Office)  Read  and  Voted  that  the 
same  be  Accepted,  and  that  Mr.  Fenno  be  accountable  to  the 
Town  for  40  Bushels  of  Rye  &  20  Bushels  of  Indian  Corn  remain- 
ing unsold  am0,  to  £12,,  5,,  4,  and  also  for  the  Sum  of  £478,, 
15,,  ll£  Cash  now  in  his  hands,  exclusive  of  the  Sum  of  £26,, 
13,,  4  for  his  Salary  and  Assistance,  as  Charged  in  his  Account 
which  is  hereby  allowed  him. 


38  City  Document  No.  88. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esqr.  Mr.  John  Scollay  &  Mr.  Timothy  Newell 
are  chose  Purchasers  of  Grain  for  the  Year  ensuing,  and  they  are 
desired  and  iinpowered  to  give  all  needful  directions  to  the  Keeper 
of  the  Granary,  respecting  the  quantities  of  Grain  to  be  Sold,  and 
Setting  the  price  thereof  from  time  to  time  as  occasion  shall 
require. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  12th.  of  March  last  to  Audit  the 
Accompts  of  Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries  now  Report  That  they  have 
attended  that  Service,  and  find  the  same  right  cast  and  well 
vouch'd,  in  which  he  charges  himself  with  Sundry  Fines  Rents  and 
other  Incomes  of  the  Town,  as  also  with  the  Tax  of  £4500  all 
which  amount  (including  the  ballance  of  the  old  account)  to 
£5533,,  7,,  1^.  And  the  said  Treasurer  discharges  himself  by 
sundry  Abatements  made  the  Collectors,  by  Drafts  made  by  the 
Selectmen  amounting  to  £2710,,  3,,  4|.  of  which  he  has  paid 
£2118,,  12,,  9£.  and  by  Drafts  made  by  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor 
which  contain  the  Charges  of  the  Aims-House  and  Work-house 
am0,  to  £1971.,  6,,  9  of  which  he  has  paid  £1460,,  4,,  Of. 

[450.]  The  said  Committee  having  inspected  said  Drafts 
containing  the  Charges  of  the  Aims-House  and  Work-House  in  a 
very  particular  manner  by  Examining  every  Voucher  produced  by 
the  Overseers  for  the  amount  of  their  said  Drafts  and  every 
other  Branch  of  Public  Charge  all  amounting  to  £6235,,  16,,  6.  as 
<#>  Acco1  of  Town  Treasury  in  the  said  Treasurer's  Books,  Bal- 
lance whereof  being  £702,,  9,,  4|.  is  carried  to  the  Debit  of  new 
Account.  Which  Report  &  Accompt  being  Read,  Voted  that  the 
same  be  and  hereby  is  accepted. 

Voted  that  John  Rowe  Esq'.  Mr.  Will™  Story  Mr.  Samuel 
Waterhouse  Mr.  Thomas  Gray  &  Mr.  Samuel  Phillips  Savage,  be 
and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  audit  the  Accompts  of 
Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries,  and  also  the  Accompts  of  the  Overseers  of 
the  Poor  and  the  Committee  are  desired  and  impowred  to  inspect 
every  particular  Account  of  the  Monies  expended  for  the  use  of 
the  Alms-Ilouse,  they  are  also  impowered  when  they  shall  audit 
said  Accompts  to  allow  to  said  Overseers  or  such  of  them  as  shall 
advance  Monies  for  the  Relief  of  the  Poor,  Interest  on  all  such 
Sums  from  the  time  advanced  'till  they  shall  audit  sd.  Accompts. 

The  Committee  to  wait  on  his  Excellency  Governour  Pownall 
with  the  Address  of  the  Town  to  him,  Report,  that  they  have  so 
dwiie  and  that  1ms  Excellency  was  pleas 'd  to  give  the  following 
Answer  Viz*. 
Mr.  Moderator  &  Gentlemen, 

I  receive  this  kind  and  very  affectionate  Address  of  the  Town 
in  that  high  Esteem  which  I  have  alwajr  held  the  respectible  from 
"whom  it  comes,  and  I  desire  you  to  make  known  my  thanks  for  it. 

The  Inhabitants  of  this  Capitol  zealously  regarding  the  King's 
Service  and  the  People's  Interest  as  one  and  the  same  thing,  and 
bearing  testimony  that  these  have  been  united  under  my  Adminis- 
tration, do  me  the  most  effectual  honour,  for  His  Majesty  never 
[451.]  thinks  his  Service  so  well  conducted  as  when  it  truly 
serves  the  Interest  of  his  People. 

Wherever  the  King  commands  my  Services  there  it  must  be  my 


Boston  Town  Kecords,  1760.  39 

duty  and  honour  to  Serve.  But  tho'  my  Civil  Connections  with 
this  Community  determine  by  my  present  Destination,  yet  my  At- 
tachment to  it  will  ever  remain  invariable,  and  my  gratitude 
towards  it  will  ever  be  an  indispensable  Duty,  and  if  ever  I  shall 
be  in  any  Situation  wherein  I  may  be  useful  to  the  Civil  Religious 
or  Commercial  Interests  of  this  Town  it  will  alway  be  my  study 
how  I  can  best  Serve  it,  and  my  happiness  to  be  able  to  Serve 
it.  Pownall. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  be  and  they  hereby  are  impowered  to 
sit  on  every  Thursday  from  this  time  untill  the  last  Thursday  of 
April  next  inclusive,  &  no  longer  for  making  an  Abatement  of  the 
Taxes  of  such  Persons  as  they  shall  judge  reasonable,  saving  that 
they  have  liberty  to  sit  the  two  last  Weeks  in  Novr.  next  to  abate 
(if  they  see  cause)  the  Taxes  of  all  such  Persons  as  shall  appear 
to  them  to  have  been  out  of  the  Province,  and  so  could  not  have 
made  Application  to  them  for  an  Abatement  by  said  last  Thursday 
in  April,  and  also  that  they  may  then  abate  the  Taxes  of  such 
Persons  as  may  have  dyed  Insolvent  or  become  Bankrupts  between 
said  last  Thursday  in  April  and  last  of  November. 

Voted  that  such  Gentlemen  as  shall  lend  any  Monies  to  the  Town 
for  the  use  of  the  Aims-House  be  and  hereby  are  allowed  at  and 
after  the  rate  of  five  per  Cent  for  such  Sums  as  they  shall  lend  the 
same  to  be  deducted  out  of  their  Tax,  and  the  Collectors  are  hereby 
ordered  to  discount  the  same  out  of  their  Tax  when  they  shall 
receive  it. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  they  [452.]  are  hereby  desired 
to  take  every  Method  in  their  Power  to  reduce  the  great  Number 
of  Licenc'd  Houses,  and  that  when  any  Licenc'd  Persons  remove 
or  die,  that  they  do  not  Licence  them  or  others  in  their  Room  but 
when  they  shall  judge  it  to  be  of  absolute  necessity  and  con- 
venience. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz'.  "  To  determine  what  is  neces- 
sary to  be  further  done  for  widening  Ann  Street,"  was  considered 
of  and  thereupon  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to 
Treat  with  the  Persons  Intrested  in  the  House  belonging  to  the 
Estate  of  Mr.  Jeremiah  Allen  deceased,  or  the  Guardians  of  such 
as  are  Minors,  what  they  expect  to  have  for  so  much  thereof  as  is 
necessary  to  be  taken  down  for  widening  said  Street,  and  also 
Consider  whether  any  further  Application  is  necessary  to  be  made 
to  the  General  Court  for  effecting  the  same,  and  Report  their 
doings  hereon  at  the  General  Town  Meeting  in  May  next. 

Voted  that  all  Matters  and  Things  that  remain  unfinished  at  this 
Meeting  be  and  hereby  is  referr'd  over  to  the  General  Town  Meet- 
ing in  May  next,  to  be  then  Considered  of  and  Acted  upon. 

Voted  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  aud  hereby 
is  given  to  the  Honble.  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq1",  the  Moderator  of 
this  Meeting  for  transacting  the  Buisness  thereof. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dismiss'd. 

[453.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  Public 


40  City  Document  No.  88. 

Town    Meeting  Assembled   at  Fanueil-Hall  on  Tuesday  the  13th. 
day  of  May  AD  1760. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Samuel  Checkley  junr. 
The  Precept  and  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  Read. 
Sundry  Laws  Read. 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esqr.  one  of  the  Selectmen  propos'd  in  their 
Names  to  the  Inhabitants  Assembled  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of 
one  or  more  Persons  to  Represent  them  in  the  Great  and  General 
Court  or  Assembly  to  be  held  at  Boston  upon  Wednesday  twenty 
eight  day  of  May  current,  and  in  order  thereto  to  consider  and 
ascertain  the  Number  of  Gentlemen  to  be  Elected,  accordingly,  it 
was  Voted  to  proceed  to  the  Choice  of  four  Representatives,  and 
then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Votes  will  be  recd. 
but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and  that  they  propose  the  Poll  shall  be 
clos'd  at  twelve  o'Clock. 

The  Votes  being  brought  in,  the  Number  of  Voters  were  found 
to  be  997,  and  upon  Sorting'  em  it  appeared  that  the  four  following 
Gentlemen  were  chose  viz'. 

The  Honble.  Samuel  Welles  Esqr.  had  604 
Thomas  Flucker  Esqr.  .    629 
Royal  Tyler  Esqr.    .     .    863 
John  Phillips  Esqr.        .    928. 
The  Choice  of  Representatives  being  over  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in 
their  Votes  for  a  [454»J  Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  in  order  that 
the  Town  may  proceed  in  transacting  the  other  Affairs  mentioned 
in  the  Warrant,  accordingly  the  Inhabitants  withdrew  and  bro't  in 
their  Votes,  and  upon  Sorting  'em  it  appear'd  that  John  Phillips 
Esqr.  was  chose. 

Then  Voted  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  three  o'Clock  in 
the  Afternoon. 

Three  o'Clock  P.M.  the  Inhabitants  Assembled. 
Voted  that  Mess".  Oxenbridge  Thacher  Benja.  Kent  and  James 
Otis  Esqr.  be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  pre- 
pare an  Answer  to  the  Petition  of  the  Town  of  Dorchester  lately 
preferr'd  to  the  General  Court,  wherein  they  pray  that  this  Town 
may  obliged  to  pay  a  proportionable  part  of  the  Charges  they  have 
been  at  in  rebuilding  a  Bridge  over  Naponsit  River  near  Jackson's 
Mills,  and  that  said  Bridge  maybe  established  as  a  County  Bridge, 
and  maintained  by  the  County.  And  said  Committee  are  desired 
to  Sign  said  Answer  and  in  the  name  of  the  Town  give  it  in  to  the 
General  Court  at  their  next  Sessions. 

Voted  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  for  all  Public  Donations  that  have  been  made  for  the 
Relief  of  such  Persons  as  suffered  by  the  great  Fire  that  happened 
in  Town  the  20th.  of  March  last,  and  also  for  all  private  Donations 
that  have  been  made  for  the  same  purpose.  And-  that  this  Vote 
be  made  known  by  inserting  it  in  all  the  Public  Prints. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  consider  what  Methods  are  best  to  be 

taken  to  prevent  the  Spreading  of  Fires,  and  for  the  more  speedy 

.     .  extinguishing  of  'em,  also  of  securing  Goods  Merchandizes 

&ca,  and  [455.]  thereupon  Voted  that  the  Gentlemen  the  Fire- 


Boston  Town  Eecoeds,  1760.        41 

wards  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to 
consider  of  this  Affair  and  Report  their  Opinion  what  method  is 
best  for  the  Town  to  take  for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  and  Report 
the  same  to  the  Town. 

On  the  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz'.  "  "Whether  the  Town  will 
give  directions  that  the  Pump  in  the  Well  near  Dock  Square  be 
Repaired,  and  how  the  Expences  thereof  be  paid  "  Voted  that  this 
Affair  be  left  to  the  Selectmen  to  do  therein  what  the\r  ma}7  think 
proper. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz'.  To  consider  of  the  Petition  of 
sundry  Inhabitants  "that  the  Town  would  apply  to  the  Parliment 
of  Great  Britain  for  a  Grant  to  be  made  for  the  Relief  of  such  In- 
habitants as  suffered  by  the  great  Fire  the  20th.  of  March  last,  and 
also  to  such  of  His  Majesty's  Subjects  for  further  Relief  as  the 
Town  may  think  proper,"  was  proceeded  upon,  and  thereupon  Voted 
that  John  Thomlinson  and  William  Bollan  of  London  Esqrs.  be  and 
they  hereby  are  appointed  Agents  for  this  Town  in  order  to  make 
Application  at  Home,  in  such  way  and  manner  as  they  may  think 
proper  for  obtaining  Relief  for  the  poor  distress'd  Sufferers  that 
were  burnt  out  by  the  great  Fire  which  happened  in  Town  the  20th. 
of  March  last, 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  consider  what 
directions  may  be  proper  to  be  given  to  the  Town  Agents  in  this 
Affair,  &  prepare  a  suitable  Letter  to  be  sent  to  the  Agents  there- 
upon, and  Report  the  same  at  the  Adjournment  of  this  Meeting. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  make  such  Application  to  any  of  His  Majesty's  Subjects 
on  this  Continent  or  in  the  West  India  Islands  for  further  Relief 
as  they  may  judge  proper. 

[450.]  Voted  that  the  Gentlemen  and  Merchants  in  this 
Town  be  and  they  hereby  are  desired  to  write  to  their  Correspond- 
ents abroad,  and  use  their  utmost  Interest  with  them  to  afford 
some  assistance  towards  making  up  the  great  Loss  sustained  by 
Fire  in  this  Town  the  20th  of  March  last. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz1.  "  To  know  the  mind  of  the  Town 
about  clearing  and  opening  the  Streets  and  Lanes  that  have  been 
or  may  be  laid  out  in  that  part  of  the  Town  that  has  been  lately 
demolished  by  Fire,  and  determine  how  the  Charges  arising  thereby 
may  be  paid,"  was  taken  into  Consideration  and  after  a  consider- 
able Debate  thereon,  it  being  moved  and  seconded  the  following 
Question  was  put  viz'.  Whether  the  new  Highway  or  Street  that  is 
proposed  by  the  Commissioners  to  be  laid  out  thro'  part  of  Mr. 
John  Wheat  ley's  House-Lot  fronting  King  Street  and  to  run  back 
to  the  South-East  near  the  House  Lot  of  Benja.  Hallowell  Esqr. 
will  be  for  the  Interest  and  Convenience  of  the  Town?  Voted  in 
the  Negative  by  a  great  Majority.  Also  Voted  that  the  Selectmen 
be  desired  to  inform  the  Commissioners  of  said  Vote  pass'd. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz'.  "  Whether  the  Town  will  make 
Application  to  the  General  Court  that  the  Taxes  of  such  Inhabi- 
tants, as  were  burnt  out,  or  that  sustained  Losses  by  the  late  Fire 
may  be  Abated,  was  Considered  and  thereupon  Voted  that  the 
Selectmen  be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  make 


42  City  Document  No.  88. 

Application  to  the  General  Court  for  an  Abatement  of  said  Taxes 
accordingly. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz'.  "  Whether  the  Town  will  do 
anything  towards  repairing  the  South- Battery  "  was  Considered, 
and  thereupon  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  fence  in  the 
Lands  of  the  South  Battery,  and  also  Erect  a  [457.]  such  a  small 
Building  as  they  may  judge  to  be  necessary  for  the  Convenience  of 
it  and  nothing  more  be  at  present  done  there. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz'.  "  What  Method  can  be  taken  for 
obtaining  Relief  as  to  the  number  of  French  Neutrals  lately  ordered 
into  Town  by  the  General  Court  for  Subsistance,  and  in  what  manner 
those  of  'em  that  remain  here  shall  be  supported"  was  Considered 
of,  but  nothing  done  thereon,  as  the  Town  were  Informed  that  each 
Town  in  the  Province  had  their  proportion  of  the  French  Neutrals 
to  provide  for,  by  order  of  the  General  Court,  and  that  the  Over- 
seers of  this  Town,  must  take  the  same  Care  of  said  French 
Neutrals  ordered  here  as  of  other  Poor. 

Voted  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Friday  the  16th.  instant, 
at  nine  o'clock  in  the  forenoon. 

May  16th.  1760.  The  Town  met  at  nine  o'Clock  in  the  forenoon 
according  to  Adjournment. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Four  Thousand  five  hundred  Pounds  be 
rais'd  by  a  Tax  upon  Polls  and  Estates  within  the  Town  for  Relief 
of  the  Poor,  and  defreying  other  necessary  Charges  within  the 
Town  the  ensuing  Year. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  be  and  they  hereby  are  directed  not  to 
Abate  any  part  of  the  Tax  of  such  of  the  Inhabitants  as  do  not 
give  or  send  in  to  them  a  List  or  Valuation  of  their  Rateable 
Estates  within  the  time  said  Assessors  shall  fix  for  bringing  in  the 
same,  except  of  such  of  the  Inhabitants  as  were  not  in  the  Province 
within  the  time  limited  by  the  Notification  of  the  Assessors  for 
doing  it,  Also  Voted  that  this  Order  or  Vote  shall  not  be  Con- 
strued to  extend  in  such  a  manner  as  to  abridge  the  Power  the 
Assessors  have  by  the  standing  Law  of  the  Province  for  relieving 
of  Poor  Persons  in  their  Taxes. 

[458.]  Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  Peleg  VViswall  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North 
Grammar  School  for  the  ensuiug  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
quarterly,  and  to  Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter. 

Voted   that  the  Sum  of  One   hundred   and  twenty  Pounds  be 

.  allowed  and  paid  unto  Mr.  John  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of 

the  South  Grammar- School  the  ensuing  Year  the  same  to  be  paid 

him    quarterly,  and  to  Commence  at  the   Expiration  of  the  last 

Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allow'd  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  Abia  Holbrook  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writing- 
School  in  the  Common  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  quarterly  and  to  Commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  Zachariah  Hicks  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  1760.  43 

North-Writing  School  the  ensuing  Year  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
quarterly  &  to  Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  Samuel  Hobyoke  for  his  Salary  as  a  Master  of  the 
Writing  School  in  Queen  Street  the  ensuing  Year  the  same  to  be 
paid  him  quarterly,  &  to  Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  to 
Mr.  John  Procter  for  his  Salary  as  a  Master  of  the  Writing-School 
in  Queen-Street  the  ensuing  Year  to  be  paid  him  quarterly,  and  to 
commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  James  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  in  the  South  Grammar 
School  the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  paid  [459.]  him  quarterly  and  to 
Commence  from  the  time  he  entered  upon  that  Service. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  Ephraim  Langdon  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  in  the  North  Gram- 
mar School  the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly  and  to 
Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  John  Vinal  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  Writing  School  in 
the  Common  the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly,  and  to 
Commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  John  Tileston  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  in  the  North  Writing 
School  the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  paid  him  quartrly  and  to  Commence 
at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Twenty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  Peleg  Wiswall  Master  of  the  North  Grammar  School,  in 
Consideration  of  his  faithful  Services  of  his  duly  as  Master  of  said 
School. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  David  Jeffries  for  his  Services  as  Treasurer  of  the  Town 
the  Year  past,  and  for  all  his  Expences  in  that  Office. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Twenty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  to 
Mr.  Abijah  Adams  for  his  Salary  as  Clerk  of  Faneuil-IIall  Market 
the  Year  past. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  13th.  ins',  to  consider  what  direc- 
tions may  be  proper  to  be  given  to  John  Tbomlinson  and  William 
Bollan  Esq":  Agents  for  [460.]  the  Town  and  to  prepare  a 
suitable  Letter  to  be  sent  'em,  now  Report  a  Draft  of  a  Letter  for 
that  purpose  which  being  Read  and  Amended,  Voted  that  the 
same  be  Accepted,  said  Letter  as  amended  being  in  the  Words 
following  viz' : 

Boston  New  England  May  16th.  17G0. 
Gentlemen, 

We  suppose  you  are  not  unacquainted  with  the  great  Calamity 
that  has  befallen  this  Metropolis,  in  the  late  Fire  the  20th.  March 
last,  which  has  reduced  a  great  part  of  the  Houses  and  Estates  of 
the  Town  to  ruin. 

The  General  Assembly  of  this  Province  mov'd  with  the  sight  of 
such  distress  have  made  humble  Application  to  His  Majesty  on 


44  City  Document  No.  88. 

behalf  of  the  Sufferers,  and  have  desired  his  Excellency  Governour 
Pownall  who  soon  Embarks  for  England  to  present  their  Address 
to  His  Majesty  upon  this  occasion,  and  to  use  his  good  Offices  in 
obtaining  the  Relief  pray'd  for,  and  in  remitting  what  shall  be  so 
obtained,  but  tho'  the  Town  think  that  such  an  Application  to  His 
Majesty  comes  with  much  more  Advantage  from  the  Governour 
and  both  Houses  of  Assembly,  than  it  would  have  done  from  them- 
selves, yet,  so  extensive  is  the  Damage  sustained  that  they  cannot 
forbear  to  entreat  the  Assistance  and  relief  of  their  private  Friends 
in  Great  Britain  in  behalf  of  the  unhappy  Sufferers  :  they  have  ac- 
cordingly Voted  that  every  Gentleman  in  Town  be  desired  to  use 
his  Interest  with  his  Correspondents  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  and 
further  we  are  to  acquaint  you  of  the  Choice  the  Town  at  their 
Meeting  on  the  13th.  instant  made  of  you  as  their  Agents  to  SoUicit 
and  make  application  in  any  way  and  manner  you  think  proper 
upon  this  occasion,  as  also  to  receive  any  Donations  that  may  be 
lodged  in  your  hands  in  Consequence  of  a  number  of  Letters  wrote 
here  by  the  Merchants  in  general  to  their  several  Correspondents 
in  London  and  other  parts  of  Great  Britain  to  obtain  relief  for  the 
many  distress'd  Families  amongst  us  some  of  whom  from  Affluent 
and  many  from  easy  Circumstances  are  by  this  sore  Calamity  re- 
duced to  great  straits  and  indigence,  the  Monies  you  may  receive 
for  this  charitable  purpose  you  are  desired  to  remit  to  the  [461.  J 
Selectmen  and  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Boston. 

Your  Characters  leave  us  not  the  least  room  to  doubt  Your 
readiness  to  employ  your  good  Offices  upon  this  occasion  we  there- 
fore think  it  needless  to  say  any  thing  to  excite  your  Compassion 
being  assured  your  Breasts  have  a  tender  feeling  for  the  distress'd 
and  are  warm  with  every  generous  and  benevolent  Sentiment. 
We  are, 

Gentlemen, 

In  the  Name  &  by  order  of  the  Town  Your 
most  Obed'.  hum  :  Servants. 
John   Thomlinson  & 
William  Boll  an  Esqm. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  prepare  fair  Copies  of  said  Letter 
Sign  'em  in  the  Name  of  the  Town  and  forward  them  to  the 
Agents  as  soon  as  may  be. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  tenth  of  March  last  to  examine 
the  Accounts  of  the  Managers  of  Boston  Lotteries  N03.  Seven 
Eight  and  Nine,  Report  that  they  have  attended  that  Service,  and 
find  them  right,  and  that  the  said  Accompts  be  allowed  viz'. 

To  Joshua  Ilenshaw  Esqr £  40  "  16 

Joseph  Jackson  Esqr 40  "    7 

Mr.  Thomas  Cushing 41  "    5 

Mr.  Samuel  Hewes 39  "    6 

Mr.  John  Scollay 37  "    1 

Mr.  Benj\  Austin 39  "  12 

Andw.  Oliver  junr.  Esq1 38  "  14 

Which  Report  was  Read,  &  Voted  it  be  Accepted. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  13th  ins*,  to  consider  what  Methods 
are  best  to  be  taken  to  prevent  the  spreading  of  Fires  and  for  the 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  1760.  45 

more  speedy  extinguishing  of  'em,  also  for  securing  of  Goods 
Merchandize  &ca.  in  the  time  of  Fire  made  the  following  Report  viz'. 
That  for  the  future  the  Care  and  Inspection  of  the  Engines  be 
left  to  the  Firewards,  and  that  when  and  so  often  as  they  shall  be 
found  to  want  repair  they  take  effectual  Care  to  see  it  done,  ac- 
cording to  their  best  discretion,  and  [462.]  that  the  Accounts 
of  Charges  arising  hereby  be  laid  before  the  Selectmen  for  their 
Approbation. 

That  the  Fire  Hooks  be  immediately  repair'd,  and  that  there  be 
two  Hooks  to  each  Engine  and  that  white  Rope  be  affixed  to  the 

Hooks That  there  be  fifteen  fathom  of  white  Rope  always 

kept  in  each  Engine   House  for  the  more  easy  pulling  clown  of 

Houses That  there  be  two  Axes  provided  for  each  Engine 

and  affixed  thereto.  The  Committee  are  further  of  Opinion  that 
there  be  two  Men  added  to  each  Company  of  Engine  Men  whose 
more  immediate  Buisness  it  shall  be  to  take  Care  of  the  Ropes  and 
Axes,  and  to  do  such  duty  therewith  as  the  Fire- Wards  shall 
direct,  those  two  to  be  Excus'd  from  Town  duty  only.  Voted  that 
the  same  be  Accepted. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  15th  of  May  last  to  Visit  the  Public 
Schools  now  Report  as  follows  viz'. 

To  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
in  Town  Meeting  Assembled  May  13th.  1760. 

Pursuant  to  the  Vote  of  the  Town  at  their  Meeting  the  15th  of 
May  last  desiring  the  Selectmen  to  visit  the  Schools  &  invite  such 
Gentlemen  to  accompany  them  as  they  shou'd  think  proper  do  now 
Report,  That  on  the  fourth  day  of  July  last  we  attended  that 
Service  accompanied  by  the  following  Gentn.  viz1. 
The  Honble  Samuel  Welles 

John  Wheelwright  & 
Thomas  Hancock  Esq18. 
George  Cradock  Esqr. 
John  Phillips  Esqr. 
Foster  Hutchinson  Esqr. 
Ebenezer  Storer  Esqr. 
Thomas  Flucker  Esqr. 
Richard  Clarke  Esqr. 
James  Pitts  Esqr. 
Sam1.  Grant  Esqr. 
James  Otis  Esqr. 
Royal  Tyler  Esqr. 
Belcher  Noyes  Esqr. 
Melatiah  Bourn  Esq*. 
The  Rev*.  Doctr.  Sewall 
Mr.  Byles 
Mr.  Eliot 
Mr.  Cooper 
Mr.  Isaac  Walker 
Mr.  John  Tudor 
M'.  Wm.  Phillips 
Mr.  Tho9.  Hill 
M".  Benf.  Dolbeare 


46  City  Document  No.  88. 

Mr.  John  Hamock 
Mr.  Tho8.  Tyler 
Mr.  Oxen  Thacher 
Mr.  David  Jeffries  j 
Mr.  Alexr.  Chamberlain 
Mr.  Sam1.  Swift  . 
[463.]     We  found  in  the  South  Grammar  School  there  were 
117  Scholars,  in  the  South  Writing  School  220  Scholars,  in  the 
Writing   School   in    Queen    Street    22.)    Scholars,    in   the   North 
Grammar  School  33  Scholars,  and  in  the  North  Writing  School 
220  Scholars,    all  in  very  good  Order. 

Voted  that  said  Report  be  accepted,  and  the  Selectmen  are 
desired  to  visit  said  Schools  the  ensuing  Year  as  usual,  and  they 
are  desired  to  invite  such  Gentlemen  to  accompany  them,  as  they 
may  think  proper. 

Mr.  Oxenbridge  Thacher  mov'd  that  he  may  be  Excused  from 
being  on  the  Committee  appointed  to  draw  an  Answer  to  the 
Petition  of  the  Town  of  Dorchester,  relating  to  Rebuilding  Nepon- 
sit  Bridge. 

Voted  that  Mr.  Thacher  be  Excused  accordingly,  and  that  Ben- 
jamin Prat  Esqr.  be  on  said  Committee  in  his  Room. 

Voted  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
is  given  to  John  Phillips  Esqr.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for 
transacting  the  Business  thereof. 
Then  the  Meeting  was  Dismiss'd. 

[464.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualifyed  and  warned  in 
publick  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  the  Town  House  on  Monday 
the  Ninth  Day  of  March  Anno  Dom°.  1761. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  D\  Sewall. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting read. 

Sundry  Laws  enjoyned  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting,  were  ac- 
cordingly read. 

John  Phillips  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  and 
took  the  Oath  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving  Bills  of  Credit 
of  the  Governments  of  Connecticut  New  Hampshire  &  Rhode 
Island  as  required  by  the  Act  of  the  Province ;  and  the  Meeting 
adjourned  to  the  Revd.  Mr.  Cooper's  Meeting  House. 

William  Cooper  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  Year  ensuing 
and  having  taken  the  Oath  relating  to  his  receiving  and  paying 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments,  took  the  Oath  of  Office, 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duty,  which  were  administred 
him  by  John  Phillips  Esq. 

Voted  unanimously  that  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq.  for  his  faithfull  services 
many  }rears  past  as  Town  Clerk. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  Seven  Selectmen,  and  the 
Votes  being  brought  in  and  soiled  it  appear'd  that 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq.  .  .  .  Excused 
Joseph  Jackson  Esq.  .  .  .  Excused 
Thomas  Gushing  Esq. 


Boston  Town  Kecords,  1761.  47 

[465.]     Samuel  Hews  Esq. 
John  Scollay  Esq. 
Benjamin  Austin  Esq. 
Andrew  Oliver  Junr.  Esq.    .     .     Excused 
were  chosen,  and   Joshua   Henshaw  Esq.  Joseph   Jackson   Esq. 
and  Andrew  Oliver   Jr.  Esq.    desired   to  be  excused,  the   other 
Gentlemen   accepted,  and   took  the  Oath   required   by   Law,  re- 
specting the  irreceiving  and  paying  Bills  of  the  other  Governments. 
Voted  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town,  be  and  hereby 
are  given  unto  Andrew  Oliver  Juur.  Esq.  for  his  faithfull  service 
as  Selectman  for  some  Years  past. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 

John  Phillips  Esq. 

Mr.  Isaac  Walker 

Mr.  John  Barratt 

Eoyall  Tyler  Esq. 

Thomas  Flucker  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Phillips 

Mr.  Benjamin  Dolbear 

Mr.  Isaac  Smith 

Meletiah  Bourne  Esq. 

Mr.  Samuel  Dexter 

Mr.  Jonathan  Mason 

Mr.  Henry  Bromfield 
were  chosen  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Voted  that  the  Petition  relative  to  the  Market  be  taken  under 
consideration  4  O'Clock  P  M  :  and  that  the  choice  of  County 
Treasurer  and  Register  of  Deeds  &ca.  for  the  County  be  ime- 
diately  after. 

[466.]  Upon  a  motion  made  and  seconded,  it  was  unani- 
mously Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are 
given  to  Mr.  John  Tudor,  for  his  good  services  to  the  Town  as 
an  Overseer  of  the  Poor  for  some  years  past. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Wardens,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeard  that  — 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 

Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 

Thomas  Flucker  Esq. 

Thomas  dishing  Esq. 

Johan  Scollay  Esq. 

Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 

Benjamin  Austin  Esq. 

Mr.  John  Barrat 

Mr.  William  Phillips 

Mr.  Samuel  Dexter 

Mr.  Samuel  Phillips  Savage 
were  chosen  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Votes  were  brought  in  for  a  Town  Treasurer,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeared  that  Mr.  David  Jeffries  was  unanimously 
chosen,  and  having  taken  the  Oath  relating   to  his  paying   and 


48  City  Document  No.  88. 

receiving  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments  took  the  Oath 
of  Office  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duty  which  were  admin- 
istred  him  by  John  Phillips  Esq. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Firewards  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeared,  that 

John  Phillips  Esq. 
Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 
John  Scollay  Esq. 
[467.]  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Cap1.  Newman  Greenough 
Mr.  Samuel  Austin 
Cap*.  Solomon  Davis 
Mr.  William  Cooper 
Mr.  John  Mico  Wendell 
Mr.  Joseph  Jackson 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Mr.  Henderson  Inches 
were  chosen  for  the  ensuing  Year. 

Voted  that  this  Meeting  be  adjourned  to  Revd.  Dr.  Sewalls 
Meeting  House.  3  O'Clock  in  the  Afternoon. 

3  O'Clock  Afternoon  met  according  to  adjournm*.  Upon  a 
motion  made  and  seconded,  the  question  was  put  whether  Col- 
lectors of  Taxes  shall  be  chosen  seperate  from  Constables  passed 
in  the  affirmative. 

Voted,  that  any  Person  chosen  into  the  Office  of  a  Constable  for 
the  Year  ensuing  may  be  excused  from  serving  on  his  paying  the 

Sum  of  Four  Pounds 

The  clause  in  the  Warrant  relating  to  the  repairing  Faneuil 
Hall  Market,  purchasing  the  Lands  adjoining,  enlarging  the 
Square  around  it,  and  filling  up  the  Dock  &c.  came  under  consid- 
eration—  whereupon  after  debate  the  question  was  put  —  whether 
it  be  the  mind  of  the  Town  that  Faneuil  Hall  Market  be  repair'd 

or  rebuilt passed  in  the  Negative. 

At  the  same  time  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desir'd  to  take 
such  Methods,  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  security  of  the  Walls 
of  Faneuil  Hall  Market. 

[468.]  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  take  such 
steps  as  the  Law  directs  for  the  widening  the  Street  between 
Faneuil  Hall  Market,  and  Mess™.  Bromfields,  Waterhouses  and 
Gibbs  Stores. 

Voted  that  James  Otis  Esq.  Ezekiel  Goldthwait  and  Thomas 
Green  Esq.  Mr.  Isaac  Smith  and  M1.  John  Avery  be  a  Committee 
to  confer  with  the  Abuttors  upon  the  Town  Dock  relative  to  the 

filling  it  up,  and  report  at  the  next  May  Meeting. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  County  Treasurer,  which 
were  received  and  sealed  up  by  Constable  Thomas  to  be  by  him 
kept,  and  return'd  to  the  next  Court  of  the  General  Session  of  the 
Peace  to  be  held  for  this  County. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  County  Register  which 
were  received  and  sealed  up  by  Constable  Thomas  to  be  hy  him 
kept  &  return'd  to  the  next  Court  of  the  General  Session  of  the 
Peace  to  be  held  for  this  County. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1761. 


49 


The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  for  paving  Rawsons 
Lane  was  Read,  and  a  motion  made  and  seconded  that  Twenty  five 

Pounds  be  allowed  for  that  purpose passed  in  the  negative  ; 

and  then  it  was  Voted  that  the  Petition  be  dismissed. 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  for  paving  Bacon 
Street,  was  read  and  the  question  then  put,  whether  the  prayer  of 
the  petition  should  be  granted  —  passed  in  the  negative. 

Voted,  that  the  choice  of  Collectors  shall  come  on  to  Morrow  10 
O'Ciock  in  the  Forenoon. 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  Town 
House,  to  Morrow  Morning  9  O'Ciock  Forenoon. 

[469.]  9  O'Ciock  A.M.  Met  according  to  adjournment 
and  further  adjourned  to  the  Revd.  Dr.  Sewalls  Meeting 
House- 
Voted,  that  the  Town  proceed  imediately  to  the  choice  of  twelve 
Constables,  and  the  Votes  being  brought  in  and  sorted  it  appeared 
that 

Mess™.  Augustus  Hale    .     ...     Sworn 
Nathaniel  Thayer     ...      ditto 
Francis  Salmon    ....      ditto 
James  Thomas     ....      ditto 
John  Rogers         ....      ditto 

Elisha  Byles ditto 

William  Dorrington .  .  .  ditto 
Samuel  Mc.Clure  .  .  .  ditto 
Eliphalet  Parker  .  .  .  ditto 
Stephen  Syms     ....      ditto 

John  Weld ditto 

John  Crompston       .     .     .      ditto 
were  chosen  for  the  ensuing  Year     ....      ditto 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Clerks  of  the  Market, 
and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that 
Messrs.  Cornelius  Thayer 
Daniel  Parker 
Benjamin  Henderson 
Nathaniel  Hurd 
Daniel  Henchman 
Oliver  Wiswall 
Neale  Mc.Intyre 
James  Jackson 
William  Bowes 
Houghton  Perkins 
Thomas  Fleet 
[470.]  John  Welch 

were  chosen  Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess".  William  Moore 
Joseph  Russell 
Story  Dawes 
Samuel  May 
James  Barnard 
Onesiphorus  Tilestone 
were  chosen  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 


50  City  Document  No.  88. 

Mess™.  William  Nichols 
Isaac  Vergose 
Robert  Ford 
Andrew  Syms 
Clement  Collins 
William  Paine 
Thomas  Bayley 
Caleb  Ray 
John  Langley 
Nathaniel  Wales 
John  Grenough 
James  Ridgway 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Boards  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess18.  Ebenezer  Lowell 
Isaac  Savage 
John  Edwards 
Jonathan  Adams 
Benjamin  Fitch 
William  Bowman 
Edward  Hollyday 
[471.]  Solomon  Kneeland 

Benjamin  Harrod 
Joseph  Calf 
Samuel  Smith 
After  Stoddard 
were  chosen  Scavengers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess13.  David  Spear 

Samuel  Barnard 
Nathan  Spear 
Robert  Treat 
Peter  Cotta 
Samuel  Treat 
Jonathan  Jenkins 
John  Haskins 
John  Hyllier 
Joshua  Pico 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mr.  John  Gray  was  chose  Surveyor  of  Hemp. 
Mess™.  Nathaniel  Gardner 
Joseph  Belknap 
were  chosen  informers  of  Deer  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Thomas  Chapman 
was  chosen  Hayward  for  the  Year  ensuing,  but  excused. 
Messrs.  Martin  Gay 
David  Cutler 
were  chose  Assay  Masters  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Selectmen     In  margin.     [Survey™,  of  High  Way] 
[472.]  Mess'8.  Cornelius  Thayer 
.Robert  Hews 
Adino  Paddock 
Jonathan  Blake 
were  chose  Sealers  of  Leather  for  the  Year  ensuing. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1761.        51 

Mess™.  Clement  Collins 

Jonathan  Jenkins 

Cap'.  Thomas  Stoddard 

Leodore  Cross 
were  chose  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  that  the  sense  of  the  Town 
should  be  taken  upon  the  following  question  viz'.  Whether  the  Se- 
lectmen shall  be  allowed  a  discretionary  power  as  to  the  payment 
of  the  Premium  to  the  Town  Collectors  for  the  Collecting  of  Taxes 
in  Years  past,  any  former  Vote  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

passed  in  the  affirmative 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Nine  Pence  on  the  Pound  be  and  hereby 
is  allowed  to  such  Persons  as  shall  be  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes 
for  the  Year  ensuing,  for  all  such  Sums  as  they  shall  Collect,  pro- 
vided they  pay  into  the  Town  Treasury  one  half  part  of  the  whole 
Sum  they  are  obliged  to  pay  him,  within  four  Mounths  from  the 
time  they  receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the  Assessors,  and  the 
other  half  part  in  three  Months  after,  and  also  pay  into  the 
Province  and  County  Treasuries  one  half  part  of  the  whole  sum 
they  shall  be  obliged  to  pay  them  respectively  in  seven  Months 
from  the  time  they  shall  receive  the  tax  Books  from  the  Assessors 
as  aforesaid,  and  the  other  half  part  in  five  Months  after;  and  in 
case  either  of  said  Collectors  shall  fail  paying  in  the  manner 
aforesaid ;  the  Collector  so  failing  shall  not  be  entitled  to  the 
aforesaid  allowance  of  nine  Pence  on  the  Pound,  but  wholly  forfeit 
the  [473.]  Same,  provided  also  that  each  of  said  Collectors  give 
Bond  with  sufficient  surties  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duty  in  said  Office,  and  com- 
plying with  this  Vote. 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  shall  have  a  discretionary  power  as  to 
the  payment  of  the  Collectors  Premiums  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the 
above  Vote  notwithstanding. 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Four  Collectors  of 
Taxes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

John  Ruddock  Esq. 

Mr.  Jonathan  Payson 

Mr.  John  Grant 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
were  chosen  into  that  Office  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Seven  Assessors  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that 

Mess™.  William  Fairfield 

John  Kneeland 

Samuel  Edwards 

Benjamin  Church 

Joseph  Bradford 

William  Torrey 

Jonathan  Brown 
were  chose  into  that  Office  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Proposals  of  Dr.  Sylvester  Gardner  for  Erecting  an  Inocu- 
lating Hospital  were  read,  and  after  long  debate  the  question  was 
put,  —  Whether  there  be  any  Place  within  the  limits  of  the  Town, 


52  City  Document  No.  88. 

where  snch  an  Hospital  can  be  Erected,  consistent  with  the  safety 
of  the  Inhabitants. passed  in  the  negative. 

[474:.]  Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  adjourned  to  3  O'Clock 
P.M: 

3  O'Clock  P.M  :  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

The  Selectmen  reported  on  the  Account  of  Mr.  John  Fenno 
Keeper  of  the  Granary  for  the  Year  past,  which  Account  as  entered 
in  his  Books  (and  on  file  in  the  Town  Clerks  Office)  was  read, 
whereupon  it  was  Voted,  that  the  same  be  accepted,  and  that  Mr. 
Fenno  be  accountable  to  the  Town  for  1050  Bushels  of  Corn,  and 

240  Bushels  of  Rye  remaining  unsold  amounting  to  £223 and 

also  for  the  sum  of  £263,,  15,,  2j$  Cash  now  in  his  hands  exclusive 
of  the  sum  of  twenty  six  Pounds  thirteen  shillings  and  four 
Pence  for  his  Salary  and  Assistance,  as  charged  in  his  Account, 
which  is  hereby  allowed  him. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq.  John  Scollay  Esq.  and  Mr.  Timothy  Newell 
were  chose  purchasers  of  Grain  for  the  Year  ensuing,  and  they  are 
desired  and  impower'd  to  give  all  needful  directions  to  the  Keeper 
of  the  Granary  respecting  the  Quantitys  of  Grain  to  be  sold, 
and  affixing  the  price  thereof  from  time  to  time  as  occasion  shall 
require. 

Voted  that  John  Rowe  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Story 
Cap*.  John  Leaveret 
Mr.  William  Gray 
Cap'.  William  Tayler 
be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the  Ac- 
counts of  Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries  and  also  the  Accounts  of  the  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor,  and  the  said  Committee  are  enjoin'd  to  inspect 
every  particular  Account  of  the  Moneys  expended  for  the  use  of 
the  Alms  House,  they  are  also  impower'd  when  they  shall  Audit 
said  Accompts  to  allow  such  of  the  Overseers  as  shall  advance 
Moneys  for  the  relief  of  the  Poor,  Interest  on  such  Sums,  from  the 
time  so  advanced,  till  they  shall  have  Audited  said  Account. 

[475.]  Voted,  that  the  Assessors,  be  and  are  hereby  directed 
&  impowerd  to  set  for  the  abatement  of  such  taxes  as  they  shall 
judge  reasonable,  on  every  Thursday,  till  the  first  Thursday  in 
April  inclusive,  and  no  longer,  saving  that  they  be  allowed  to  set 
the  two  last  Weeks  in  November,  for  the  abatement  of  the  taxes 
of  such  Persons  as  had  not  an  opportunit}*  of  applying  in  the  above 
limited  time  by  reason  of  their  being  out  of  the  Province,  at  which 
time  they  are  also  allowed  and  impower'd  to  abate  the  Taxes  of 
such  Persons  as  may  have  died  Insolvent  or  become  Bankrupts, 
between  the  said  last  Thursday  in  April  and  the  last  Day  of  No- 
vember. 

Voted,  that  such  of  the  Inhabitants  as  shall  advance  Moneys  to 
the  Town  for  the  use  of  the  Alms  House,  be  and  hereby  are  allowed 
at  and  after  the  Rate  of  Five  p  Cent  upon  such  sums  as  they  shall 
so  advance,  and  the  Collectors  are  hereby  Order'd  to  discount  those 
sums  together  with  the  allowance  thereon  out  of  the  said  Gentle- 
mens  respective  Taxes. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  three  Selectmen  in  the 


Boston  Town  Eecoeds,  1761.  53 

room  of  the  three  Gentlemen  who  had  declined  serving,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeard  that  only 
Mess™.  Samuel  Sewall 

Thomas  Gray  —  excused 
were  chosen,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Gray  for  reasons  mentioned  were 
excused  by  the  Town  from  serving  in  that  Office. 

Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  Joshua  Henshaw  Esq.  and  Joseph  Jackson  Esq.  for 
their  faithful  services  as  Selectmen  a  number  of  Years  past. 

Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  &  hereby 
are  given  to  the  Selectmen  for  the  extraordinary  care  they  have 
hitherto  [476.]  Taken   to  prevent   the   spreading  of  the  small 

Pox 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Selectman,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appear'd.  that  Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq.  was  chosen, 

but  for  reasons  mentioned  was  excused  from  serving 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  with   such  Gentlemen  as  they  shall 

think  proper  to  invite,  be  a  Committee  to  visit  the  Schools 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  act  upon  the  List 

of  Jurors  

Upon  consideration  of  that  clause  in  the  Warrant  relating  to 
Ladders  &ca.  Voted,  that 

Cap*.  Solomon  Davis 
Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 
James  Otis  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  draw  up  a  By  Law, 
which  shall  oblige  the  Inhabitants  to  keep  one  Ladder  at  least  at 

their  several  Dwelling  Houses 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  continue  their  best  en- 
deavours, to  prevent  the  spreading  of  the  Small  Pox 

A  Letter  of  Mr.  Abiah  Holbrook  Master  of  the  South  Writing 
School,  to  the  Selectmen,  to  be  by  them  communicated  to  the  Town 
was  accordingly  read,  but  in  as  much  as  the  matter  of  said  Letter, 
was  not  contain'd  in  the  Warrant  for  calling  this  Meeting,  Mr. 
Holbrook  had  leave  to  withdraw  it,  and  it  was  thereupon  with- 
drawn   

A  Motion  made  and  seconded,  that  there  be  a  Committee  chose 
to  consider  of  the  best  method  for  the  repairs  of  Faneuil  Hall, 
and  the  [477.]  Wayes  and  means  for  defreying  the  Charge  of 

the  same,  and  to  Report  at  the  adjournment  of  this  Meeting 

whereupon 

James  Otis  Esq. 
Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 
Thomas  Greene  Esq. 
John  Ruddock  Esq. 
Mr.  William  Phillips 
Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Hughes 
were  appointed  a  Committee  for  that  purpose. 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  notify  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  time  when  the  Committee,  appointed  to  consider  of  the  repairs 
of  Faneuil  Hall  &  are  to  make  their  report 


54  City  Document  No.  88. 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  two  Selectmen,  & 

upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 

Mess".  Samuel  Phillips  Savage  & 
Ezekiel  Lewis 
were  chosen  into  that  Office  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant  viz*.  "  Whether 
it  will  be  necessary  for  the  Town  to  make  any  further  application  to 
the  General  Court  for  relief  under  their  present  distressed  Circum- 
stances "  Jt  was  Voted,  that  the  Committee  of  the  Town  rais'd  in 

March  1757 to  make  such  application  to  the  General  Court  for 

relief  &ca.  as  they  shall  from  time  to  time  Judge  expedient,  be  and 
hereby  are  desired  to  take  this  matter  under  their  consideration, 

and  make  Application  as  they  shall  think  proper 

A  Motion  made  and  seconded  that  a  Committee  may  be  chosen 
to  draft  a  Petition,  to  be  preferr'd  to  the  General  Court  at  their 
next  [478.]  Session,  relative  to  the  Incumbrances  on  Dock  Square, 
and  to  Report  at  the  adjournment  of  this  Meeting,  whereupon 
James  Otis  Esq. 
Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 
Mr.  William  Story 
were  appointed  a  Committee  for  that  purpose. 

Voted,  that  the  consideration  of  School  Masters  Salary  s  and  all 
others  Salarys  be  referred  to  May  Meeting. 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  adjourned  to  Monday  the  23d.  Instant 
10  oClock  A.M  :  then  to  meet  at  the  Town  House. 

At  a  Meeting  of   the  Freeholders  &  other   Inhabitants  of  the 

Town  of  Boston  by  Adjournment  March  23d.  1761 10  o'Clock 

A.M. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  the  best  method  for  the 
repairs  of  Faneuil  Hall  &c.,  and  the  ways  and  means  for  defreying 
the  charge  of  the  same,  Reported  —  That  they  had  considered  the 
matter  submitted,  and  are  of  opinion  that  it  is  for  the  interest  of 
the  Town  to  have  Faneuil  Hall  repair'd,  and  that  the  best  method 
of  repairing  the  same  is  to  have  the  Roof  Slated,  the  Window  Frames 
of  Stone  and  the  Ornaments  with  as  little  Wooden  work  as  possible, 
and  as  to  the  ways  and  means  of  defreying  the  charges,  they  think 
it  best  to  apply  to  the  General  Assembly  for  a  Lottery.  Which 
Report  being  read,  and  considerable  debate  had  thereon,  It  was 

Voted, That  the  same  be  accepted  —  Also  further  Voted  — 

That  the  Selectmen  be  &  hereby  are  desired  &  impower'd  to  prefer 
a  Petition  to  the  General  Court,  at  their  next  Sessions,  praying 
that  the  Honble.  Court  would  by  an  Act  impower  some  suitable 
"Persons  to  raise  by  way  of  Lottery  such  a  sum  of  Money  as  may 
be  sufficient  for  the  aforesaid  purpose. 

[479.]  Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded 
Voted,  that  in  as  much  as  it  will  be  necessary  in  order  effectually 
to  Repair  Faneuil  Hall,  to  Repair  in  some  measure  the  lower  part 
of  said  Buildings  ;  It  is  the  Sense  of  the  Town  notwithstanding  that 
the  lower  part  shall  not  be  improved  as  a  Market,  till  the  further 
Order  and  Determination  of  the  Town. 

The  Committee  Appointed  to  draw  up  a  By  Law  which  shall 
oblige  the  Inhabitants  to  keep  one  Ladder  at  least  at  their  several 


Boston  Town  Records,  1761.  55 

Dwelling  Houses,  Reported  as  their  opinion  that  such  a  Law  will 
prove  fruitless,  and  that  instead  thereof  it  would  be  better  for  the 
Town  to  provide  about  Sixty  good  Ladders,  to  be  distributed  & 
deposited  at  convenient  places  in  the  Town,  and  that  it  be  recom- 
mended by  the  Town  to  the  several  Fire  Meetings  to  provide  them- 
selves with  such  a  number  as  they  may  think  necessary  for  their 
mutual  safety,  they  also  apprehend  that  about  three  to  each  Meet- 
ing, with  the  Town  Stock  would  answer  all  the  ends  desired. 

which  report  was  read  and  accepted  —  whereupon  it  was 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  desired  and  im- 
power'd  to  provide  as  many  Ladders  for  the  Town  as  with  the 
present  stock  shall  make  up  the  number  Sixty. 

And  whereas  it  would  be  for  the  better  security  of  the  Town,  if 
the  several  Fire  Societys  would  provide  three  Ladders  each,  to  be 
lodged  in  such  places  as  they  shall  Judge  most  convenient,  there- 
fore. 

Voted,  that  such  provision  be  recommended  by  the  Selectmen. 

James  Otis  &  Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq.  and  Mr.  William  Story 
being  a  Committee  Appointed  to  draft  a  Petition  to  be  prefer' d  to 
the  General  Court  at  their  next  Session  relative  to  the  Incum- 
brances  in  Dock    Square, Reported   the  following   Draft  — 

Viz1. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay 

[480.]  To  His  Excellency  Francis  Bernard  Esq.  Cap*.  Gen- 
eral &  Governour  in  Chief  of  the  Province  aforesaid,  to  the 
Honble.  His  Majestys  Council  and  House  of  Representatives  in 
Great  &  General  Court  Assembled  the  Day  of  March  Anno  Dom- 
ini 1761. 

The  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  — 
humbly  sheweth 

That  the  standing  of  People  with  their  Horses  and  Carts  in  and 
about  Dock  Square,  and  the  Streets  round  the  Market  Place  in 
said  Town  is  a  grievous  Incumbrance  to  all  the  Inhabitants  round 
said  Square  and  is  become  a  common  and  constant  Nusance,  and 
the  lives  and  Limbs  of  the  Subject,  are  thereby  often  endangered, 
and  frequent  attempts  have  been  made  in  the  ordinary  course  of 
the  common  Law  for  preventing  the  said  Nusance,  but  without  the 
desir'd  effect,  and  the  Petitioners  apprehend  it  will  be  impossible 
to  find  a  suitable  remedy  for  the  abuses  aforesaid  without  the 
interposition  of  the  Great  and  General  Court,  wherefore  the  Peti- 
tioners humbly  Pray,  that  your  Excellency  and  Honors  would  take 
this  matter  into  consideration,  and  that  a  special  act  may  be 
passed  for  preventing  the  said  Nusance,  and  your  Petitioners  as  in 
duty  bound  shall  ever  pray  &c.  Which  Draft  was  Read  and 
accepted,  whereupon  it  was 

Voted,  that  the  said  Committee  be  and  hereby  are  desired  to 
present  the  same  as  soon  as  may  be. 

The  Town  made  choice  of  Edward  Curtis  for  a  Hayward  in  the 
room  of  Thomas  Chapman,  who  was  excused  from  serving  in  that 
Office  for  reasons  by  him  given 

A  Motion  was  made  and  seconded  —  that  whereas  the  Commit- 
tee appointed  by  the  Town  March  1757  —  to  make  such  applica- 


56  City  Document  No.  88. 

tion  to  the  General  Court  for  relief  &ca.  as  they  shall  from  time  to 
time  Judge  expedient,  and  which  then  consisted  of  fifteen  Persons, 
is  [481.]  Now  by  reason  of  deaths,  and  removals,  reduced  to 
the  number  of  Eleven,  the  Town  should  therefore  now  proceed  to 
fill  up  those  vacancys,  whereup  it  was 

Voted,  that James  Otis  Esq. 

Ebenezer  Storer  Esq. 
Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 
Mr.  John  Barratt 
be  and  hereby  are  added  to  the  said  Committee. 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  things  that  remain  unfinished,  be 
and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  Annual  Town  Meeting  in  May 

next,  to  be  then  considered  of  and  acted  upon 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
Jobn  Phillips  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for  transacting 
and  dispatching  the  Business  thereof. 
Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston,  legally  qualifyed  and  warned  in  publick  Town  Meeting 
Assembled  at  the  Town  House  on  Monday  the  23d.  Day  of  March 
Anno  Domini  1761. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting Read. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  Moderator  by  a  Hand 
[482.]  Vote,  and  John  Phillips  Esq.  was  unanimously  chosen 
Moderator,  and  took  his  Seat  accordingly. 

A  Letter  of  Mr.  Zachariah  Hicks  late  Master  of  the  North 
Writing  School  was  read,  and  upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded 
—  The  Thanks  of  the  Town  were  Voted  to  the  said  Mr.  Hicks,  for 
his  faithful  services  as  a  School  Master,  a  number  of  Years 
past 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants,  Praying  that  a  Master 
might  be  Appointed  to  the  North  Writing  School  in  the  room  of 
Mr.  Hicks  who  had  resign'd  —  was  read. 

Also  the  Petitions  of  Mr.  John  Vinall,  Usher  of  the  South  Writ- 
ing School ;  and  of  Mr.  John  Tilestone  Usher  of  the  North  Writing 
School,  each  of  them  praying  that  he  might  be  appointed  to  suc- 
ceed Mr.  Hicks  as  Master  of  the  North  Writing  School. 

Voted,  that  the  Town  proceed  immediate^  to  the  choice  of  a 
Master  for  the  North  Writing  School  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Hicks 
who  had  resign'd. 

The  Town  having  brought  in  their  Votes,  upon  sorting  them  it 
appeared,  that  the  number  of  Voters  were  403.  and  that  Mr.  John 
Tilestone  was  chosen  Master  of  the  North  Writing  School  by  a 
very  great  majority. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 

[483.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhab- 
itants of  the  Town  of  Boston,  legally  qualifyed  and  Warned  in 
Publick  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  the  Town  House  on  Tuesday 
the  12th.  Day  of  May  AD.  1761. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Eevd.  Samuel  Checkley  Senr. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1761.  $7 

The  Precept  and  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  Read. 

Sundry  Laws Read. 

Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  one  of  the  Selectmen  proposed  in  their 
Name  to  the  Inhabitants  Assembled  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of 
one  or  more  Persons  to  Represent  them  in  the  Great  &  General 
Court  or  Assembled  to  be  held  at  Boston  upon  Wednesday  the  27 
Day  of  May  Current,  and  in  order  thereto,  to  consider  and  ascer- 
tain the  Number  of  Gentlemen  to  be  Elected ;  accordingly  it  was 
Voted  to  proceed  to  the  Choice  of  Four  Representatives,  and  then 
it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Votes  will  be  received  but 
such  as  are  unfolded,  and  that  the}'  propose  the  Poll  shall  be 
closed  at  12  °'Clock 

The  Votes  being  brought  in ;  the  number  of  Voters  were  found 
to  be  334  —  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that  the  Four  fol- 
lowing Gentlemen  were  chosen     ....     Viz4. 
John  Phillips  Esq. 
Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
James  Otis  Esq. 
Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over,  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen,  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  [484.] 
Bring  in  their  Votes  for  a  Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  in  order  that 
the  Town  may  proceed  in  transacting  the  other  affairs  mentioned 
in  the  Warrant ;  accordingly  the  Inhabitants  withdrew  and  brought 
in  their  Votes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that  John 
Phillips  Esq.  was  chosen. 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants  for  paving  part  of 
Purchase  Street  was  read,  and  the  further  consideration  referred 
to  4  °'Clock.  P.M. 

The  Consideration  of  the  Report  relative  to  the  filling  up  the 
Dock  to  come  on  immediately  after  the  Town  has  acted  upon  the 
Petition  for  paving  Purchase  Street 

Voted  that  this  Meeting  be  adjourned  to  3  °'Clock  P:  M: 

3  "'Clock  P:  M:    The  Town  met  according  to  Adjournment — 

The  Committee  appointed  to  exauiin  the  Accounts  of  David 
Jeffries  Town  Treasurer  have  attended  that  Service,  and  find  the 
same  right  cast  and  well  vouch'd,  in  which  he  charges  himself 
with  sundi\y  Fines,  Rents  and  other  Incomes  of  the  Town,  as  also 
with  the  tax  of  £4500  —  all  which  amount  (including  the  balance 
of  old  Account)  to  £7047,,  9,,  9£ —  And  the  said  Treasurer  dis- 
charges himself  by  sundry  Abatements  made  the  Collectors,  by 
Drafts  made  by  the  Selectmen  amounting  to  £2750,,  9,,  4£  of 
which  he  has  paid  £1889,,  6,,  3,,  and  by  Drafts  made  by  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor  which  contain  the  charges  of  the  Alms 
House  amounting  to  £2155,,  11,,  11J  of  which  he  has  paid 
£1158,  ,1„  3.}  — amounting  in  all  to  £7851,,  1„  4£  — 

The  said  Committee  have  inspected  said  Drafts  in  a  very  par- 
ticular manner,  and  have  examined  every  Voucher  produced  by 
the  Overseers  for  the  amount  of  their  Drafts ;  and  every  other 
branch  [485.]  Of  publick  Charge,  all  amount  as  above  to 
£7851,,  1,,  4£  as  by  Account  of  Town  Treasury  in  the  said 
Treasurers  Books  Balance  whereof  being  £803,,  11,,  7.  is  carried 


58  City  Document  No.  88. 

to  the  Debit  of  New  Account  —  which  Report  and  Account  being 
read  —  Voted  that  the  same  be  and  hereby  is  accepted. 

Voted,  "the  Sum  of  Six  thousand  Pounds  be  raised  by  a  Tax 
upon  Polls  and  Estates  within  this  Town  for  relief  of  the  Poor  and 
defraying  other  necessary  Charges  arising  within  the  Town  the 
ensuing  Year. 

Voted,  that  the  Assessors  be  and  they  hereby  are  directed  not 
to  abate  any  part  of  the  Tax  of  such  of  the  Inhabitants  as  do  not 
give  or  send  into  them,  a  List  or  Valuation  of  their  Rateable 
Estates,  within  the  time  said  Assessors  shall  fix  for  bringing  in  the 
same,  except  of  such  of  the  Inhabitants  as  were  not  in  the  Prov- 
ince within  the  time  limitted  by  the  Notification  of  the  Assessors 
for  doing  it ;  also  that  this  Order  or  Vote  shall  not  be  construed  to 
extend  in  such  a  manner  as  to  abridge  the  power  the  Assessors 
have  by  the  standing  Law  of  the  Province  for  relieving  Poor- 
Persons  in  their  Taxes  —  Also  Voted  that  the  above  Order  be 
inserted  in  the  Publick  Prints 

The  Petition  of  sundry  Inhabitants  for  Paving  part  of  Purchase 
Street  was  taken  into  consideration,  whereupon  it  was  Voted,  that 
the  Sum  of  One  Hundred  Pounds  lawful  Money  be  Granted  the 
Petitioners  upon  condition  that  they  Pave  said  Street  in  the  manner 
proposed,  to  the  approbation  of  the  Selectmen. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  relative  to  the  filling  up  the  Town 
Dock,  was  again  read  and  is  as  follows 

The  Committee  Appointed  at  the  Annual  Town  Meeting  in 
[486.]  March  last  to  confer  with  the  Abuttors  upon  the  Town 
Dock  relative  to  filling  it  up,  have  conferred  with  them,  and  we 
are  of  opinion  that  it  will  be  for  the  Interest  of  the  Town  to  fill  up 
the  Dock  as  far  as  a  straight  line  to  be  run  from  the  Southwesterly 
Corner  of  Mr.  Joseph  Tylers  Shop  to  the  Opposite  side  which  will 
end  a  few  feet  East  of  the  Place,  where  the  Towns  Shops  lately 
stood.  We  are  also  of  Opinion  the  Fish  Market,  the  Engine  & 
Watch  Houses  had  best  be  removed  to  some  more  convenient 
places.  And  as  to  that  part  of  the  Dock  between  said  line  and  the 
Swing  Bridge,  we  apprehend  great  cost  will  arise  to  the  Town  by 
filling  up  the  same,  and  that  its  being  left  open  will  be  of  great 
service  in  the  case  of  Fire.     After  considerable  debate  it  was 

Voted,  that  the  Report  be  accepted,  and  that  the  Selectmen  be 
desired  to  see  the  same  carryed  into  execution,  and  also  to  agree 
with  some  suitable  Person  or  Persons  for  the  digging  one  or  more 
Wells,  that  in  case  of  Fire  in  that  part  of  the  Town  there  may  be 
a  constant  reservoir  of  Water  for  the  supply  of  Engines  &c. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allowed  &  paid  unto 
Mr.  Peleg  Wiswall  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North  Grairiar 
School,  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly, 
and  to  Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  and  Twenty  Pounds  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  Mr.  John  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of 
the  South  Gramer  School  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  Quarterly,  and  to  Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  Hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 


Boston  Town  Records,  1761.  59 

paid  unto  Mr.  Abiah  Holbrook  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the 
Writing  School  in  the  Common  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be 
paid  him  Quarterly,  &  to  Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter. 

[487.]  Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  Hundred  Pounds  be  al- 
lowed and  paid  unto  Mr.  John  Tilestone  for  his  Salary  as  Master 
of  the  North  Writing  School  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be 
paid  him  Quarterly,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  Samuel  Holyoke  for  his  Salary  as  a  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  Queen  Street,  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  Quarterly,  and  to  Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  John  Procter,  for  his  Salary  as  a  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  Queen  Street,  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  Quarterly,  and  to  commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  &  paid 
unto  Mr.  James  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  in  the  South  Gram- 
mar School  the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly  and  to 
Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  to 
Mr.  Ephraim  Langdon  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  in  the  North  Gram- 
mar School  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly, 
and  to  Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allowed  &  paid  to 
Mr.  John  Vinal  for  his  Salary,  as  Usher  of  the  Writing  School  in 
the  Common  the  ensuing  Year,  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly,  and  to 
Commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

[488.]  Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Thirty  four  Pounds  be  al- 
lowed and  paid  unto  Mr.  John  Tilestone,  Master  of  the  North 
Wri-  School  for  providing  an  Assistant,  the  Year  ei  suing,  to 
be  paid  him  Quarterly,  and  to  Commence  from  the  time  said 
Assistant  enter'd  upon  that  Service. 

Voted,  That  the  Sum  of  One  Hundred  Pounds,  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  David  Jeffries  for  his  Services  as  Treasurer  of  the 
Town  the  Year  past,  and  for  all  his  Expences  in  that  Office. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Twenty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  Paid  to 
Mr.  Abijah  Adams,  for  his  Salary  as  Clerk  of  Faueuil  Hall  Mar- 
ket the  Year  past. 

Upon  Consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant — Viz'. — 
"  Whether  the  Town  will  take  any  measures  for  the  Repairs  of 
Faneuil  Hall  in  consequence  of  the  Lottery  granted  by  the  Gen- 
end  Court  at  their  last  Session  for  that  purpose" — Voted  that, 
the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  receive  proposals  from  Masons  Car- 
penters &c.  for  the  Repairing  Faneuil  Hall,  and  to  procure  Sub- 
scriptions for  defreying  the  Expence  thereof  upon  Credit  of  an 
Act  of  the  General  Assembly  at  their  last  Session  for  a  Lottery 
for  that  purpose,  and  to  Report  at  the  Adjournment  of  this  Meet- 
ing. 


60  City  Document  .No.  88. 

Tbe  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  an  Overseer  of  the 
Poor  in  the  room  of  Thomas  Flucker  Esq.  removed  out  of  Town 
and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that, 

Mr.  Joseph  Gardner  was  chosen    .     .     (sworn) 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Warden  in  the 
room  of  Thomas  Flueker  Esq.  removed  out  of  Town  &  upon  sort- 
ing them  it  appear'd  that 

Mr.  John  Avery  was  chosen      .     .     .     (sworn) 

[489.]  Voted,  that  Royal  Tyler  &  John  Scollay  Esq.  Mess  : 
William  Story,  Benjamin  Kent  and  Oxenbridge  Thather  be  and 
hereby  are  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  draft  a  By  Law,  which 
shall  oblige  the  Inhabitants  to  sweep  their  Chimneys  as  often  as 
is  necessary  ;  and  Report  at  the  Adjournm4. 

Voted  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  till  the  2d.  Wednesday 
in  June  next  3  o'Clock  P:  M:    to  Meet  at  the  Town  House 

The  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston, 
met  by  Adjournment  at  the  Town  House  June  10  1761  — 3  "'Clock 
P.M. 

Adjourned  to  the  Revd.  Samuel  Coopers  Meeting  House 

The  Committee  Appointed  to  Draft  a  By  Law,  which  shall 
oblige  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  to  sweep  their  Chimneys  as 
often  as  may  be  necessary  ;  Reported  the  following  Draft  —  viz*. — 

For  as  much  as  the  provision  made  in  the  By  Law  of  this  Town 
now  in  force  for  preventing  the  Chimneys  being  fired  hath  proved 
ineffectual  to  that  purpose,  and  the  Town  is  frequently  alarmed 
and  greatly  endangered  by  such  fires,  to  the  end  that  this  town 
may  not  hereafter  be  exposed  to  such  Alarms  &  dangers. 

It  is  Ordered  &  Voted,  that  from  and  after  the  first  of  August 
Anno  Domini  1761  —  every  chimney  in  the  town  were  fire  is  com- 
monly kept,  which  can  be  swept,  shall  be  swept  once  at  least  in 
every  three  months  on  penalty  of  six  shillings  to  be  paid  by  every 
occupant  of  such  chimney  which  shall  not  be  thus  swept.  And 
the  undertaker  or  undertakers  for  sweeping  of  [490.]  Chimneys 
in  this  Town  for  the  time  being,  are  hereby  directed  and  ordered 
to  go  to  the  several  houses  and  Warehouses  and  shops  in  this  town 
wherein  are  and  shall  be  chimneys  so  improved,  and  warn  the 
occupants  thereof  of  this  By  Law,  and  also  to  keep  fair  and  regular 
entries  in  a  book  of  all  chimneys  by  him  or  them  swept,  and  the 
time  of  sweeping  them,  and  who  are  the  occupants  of  the  houses, 
warehouses  and  shops  wherein  such  chimneys  are,  which  books 
shall  be  always  open  to  the  selectmen  and  to  the  firewards  of  the 
town  :  And  the  said  undertaker  or  undertakers  arc  hereby  further 
directed  to  prosecute  all  persons  who  shall  be  guilty  of  the  breach 
of  this  law,  and  in  all  such  prosecutions  the  burden  of  proof  shall 
be  understood  to  ly  on  the  occupant  of  the  chimneys,  and  he  shall 
be  deemed  the  Occupant  of  the  chimney,  who  improved  the  same 
at  the  expiration  of  three  months,  and  in  all  such  prosecutions  the 
undertaker  or  undertakers  aforesaid,  shall  be  obliged  to  produce 
the  Books  aforesaid  before  the  Justice  before  whom  the  tryal  may 
be,  and  if  the  undertaker  or  undertakers  aforesaid  shall  wittingly 
connive  at  the  breach  of  this  law  or  shall  make  a  false  entry  of  the 
sweeping  of  such  chimneys  or  shall  not  enter  in  the  said  book  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1761.  61 

chimneys  by  him  swept  and  the  time  thereof  whereby  an  innocent 
person  shall  be  exposed  to  prosecution  such  undertaker  or 
undertakers  for  every  such  offence  shall  forfeit  and  pay  the  sum 
of  ten  shillings  :  All  penaltys  and  forfeitures  arising  by  this  law 
shall  be  as  the  law  directs  to  the  poor  of  the  town,  and  whosoever 
shall  prosecute  to  effect  an}7  of  the  breaches  thereof,  shall  be 
entitled  to  receive  one  half  as  much  out  of  the  treasury  of  this 
town  to  his  own  use  as  the  offender  shall  be  adjudged  to  pay  to 
the  use  of  the  poor.  It  is  further  Ordered,  and  Voted,  that  this 
law  shall  not  be  understood  in  any  wise  to  repeal  or  make  void  the 
provisions  of  the  By  Laws  of  this  town  relating  to  this  matter 
revised  and  published  in  the  Year  1758. 

The  Foregoing  Order  or  By  Law  having  been  read  [491.] 
Several  times,  —  Voted,  that  the  same  be  accepted,  and  that  the 
Town  Clerk  present  it  to  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the 
Peace  next  to  be  holden  at  Boston  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  for 
their  approbation. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  receive  proposals  for  Repairing 
Faneuil  Hall  &c.  reported  the  same,  whereupon  Voted,  that  the 
Selectm  n  be  and  hereby  are  desired  to  agree  imediately  with  the 
several  Tradesmen,  for  carrying  on  the  Repairs  of  said  Faneuil 
Hall,  with  all  convenient  dispatch. 

In  consequence  of  a  Motion  made,  that  a  Cellar  might  be  dug 
under  Faneuil  Hall  —  Voted,  that  this  matter  be  left  to  the  Gentle- 
men Selectmen  they  to  act  as  they  inay  Judge  proper. 

Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
John  Phillips  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  for  transacting 
and  dispatching  the  Business  thereof. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  legally  qualifyed  and  Warned  in  publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  the  Town  House  on  Wednesday  the  10  Day 
of  June  Anno.  17G1  —  4  °'Clock  P.M. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting Read. 

[492.]  The  Town  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  Moderator  by 
a  hand  Vote,  and  John  Phillips  Esq.  was  unanimously  chosen 
Moderator  and  took  his  seat  accordingly 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  adjourned  to  Revd.  Samuel  Coopers 
Meeting  House . 

The  Town  took  into  consideration  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant 
viz'.  — Whether  they  will  be  at  the  Charge  of  increasing  the  num- 
ber of  Watchmen,  and  advancing  their  Wages,  or  enter  into  any 
other  measure,  for  the  better  security  of  the  Town  ;  and  after  some 
debate  it  was  Voted  that  Samuel  Wells  Esq.  Mr.  William  Story, 
Thomas  Green  Esq.  John  Ruddock  Esq.  and  Mr.  William  Cooper, 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  take  this  matter 
under  their  consideration,  and  to  report  their  opinion  at  the  Ad- 
journment. 

Voted  that  Joseph  Jackson  and  Joshua  Henshaw  Esq.  be 
added  to  the  above  Committee. 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  adjourned  to  Wednesday  next  3 


62  City  Document  No.  88. 

"'Clock  P.M:  to  Meet  at  the  Rev"1.  Samuel  Coopers  Meeting 
House  and  that  printed  notifications  of  said  Adjournment  be 
issued. 

The  Town  met  according  to  adjournment  at  Revd.  Samuel 
Coopers  Meeting  House  June  17— 1761     .     .     .     3  "'Clock  P.M: 

The  Committee  appointed  the  10  Instant  to  consider  what  may 
he  proper  to  be  done  relative  to  the  Town  Watch  —  Report,  That 
the  wages  of  the  watchmen  be  rais'cl  from  twenty  four  shillings  to 
thirty  shillings,  by  the  month.  That  four  suitable  men  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  selectmen  for  the  time  being  to  each  of  the  watch 
houses  by  the  old  north  meeting  house ;  at  the  head  of  the  Town 
Dock  ;  by  the  Town  house  [493.]  And  at  the  South  End.  That 
two  men  be  also  appointed  by  the  selectmen  as  aforesaid  to  watch 
in  dock  square,  somewhere  southward  of  the  swing  bridge,  princi- 
pally to  take  care  of  the  Warehouses,  where  so  large  a  part  of  the 
interest  of  the  inhabitants  is  lodged.  That  one  of  each  of  the 
four  first  mentioned  watches,  be  appointed  by  the  said  selectmen, 
the  head  or  constable  of  the  Watch  and  be  obliged  at  least  once 
each  week,  and  Oftner  if  required  to  give  an  account  to  the 
Selectmen  of  their  doings,  and  how  they  find  the  state  of  the 
town,  and  for  that  end  that  said  head  or  constable  keep  a  Journal 
of  their  doings  and  what  they  meet  with  in  each  night,  and  that  as 
an  encouragement  each  of  said  head,  or  constables,  be  paid  three 
pounds  by  the  month. 

The  Committee  also  apprehend  that  a  considerable  penalty  cor- 
poral or  pecuniary  be  annexed  or  inflicted  as  a  punishment  on  such 
as  shall  wound  abuse  or  resist  the  watch. 

The  Committee  further  Report  their  apprehension  on  that  the 
only  method  to  make  this  provision  effectual,  will  be,  that  the 
town  petition  for  liberty  to  bring  in  a  bill  to  the  great  and  general 
court  to  ratify  and  establish  it.  And  as  it  has  been  suggested 
that  some  of  the  watch  after  great  abuse  and  disorders  done  and 
committed  by  evil  minded  persons  against  &  before  the  said  watch 
and  when  they  the  said  watch  have  complained  to  the  civil  author- 
ity concerning  the  same,  yet  upon  application  to  said  watch  and 
money  given  them  by  the  offenders,  the  said  watch  have  ab- 
sconded and  refused  to  give  evidence  or  prosecute  their  complaint, 
the  committee  would  therefore  submit  it,  whether  some  clause 
should  not  be  brought  into  the  bill  prohibiting  such  compositions, 
under  a  penalty  to  the  watch  or  at  least  to  him  or  them  imediately 
concerned,  without  the  approbation  of  the  selectmen  first  had  and 
obtain  d 

The  above  Report  having  been  several  times  read,  it  was 
Voted,  that  the  same  be  accepted:  It  was  also  further  Voted 
[494.]  That  Samuel  Wells  Esq.  Mr.  William  Story,  Thomas 
Green  Esq.  John  Ruddock  Esq.  Mr.  William  Cooper,  Joseph 
Jackson  &  Joshua  Henshaw  Esq.  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a 
Committee  to  prefer  a  petition  to  the  great  and  general  court  at 
their  present  session  humbly  praying  liberty  to  bring  in  a  bill  to 
direct  and  impower  the  town  to  provide  more  effectually  for  their 
safety  in  the  night. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


Boston  Town  Eecokds,  1761.  63 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualifyed  and  warned  in  publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  the  Town  House  on  Monday  the  24th  Day 
of  August  Anno  Domini  1761. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     ....     read. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  Moderator  by  a  Hand 
Vote,  and  John  Phillips  Esq.  was  unanimously  chosen  Moderator 
and  took  his  seat  accordingly. 

The  Committee  first  chosen  in  1757.  .to  apply  to  the  General 
Court  relative  to  our  heavy  taxes  Reported  —  That  your  Com- 
mittee first  appointed  the  14  Day  of  March  Anno  Domini  1757  — 
and  continued  with  diverse  alterations  to  this  day  to  make  appli- 
cation from  time  to  time  to  the  General  Court  relating  to  orw 
heavy  taxes  esteem  it  their  duty  to  inform  the  town  of  their  doings, 
and  of  the  present  state  of  their  solisitations.  The  Committee 
aforesaid  have  preferr'd  diverse  petitions  to  the  court  relating  to 
this  matter;  have  [495.]  Frequently  attended  committees  of  the 
house  appointed  to  hear  &  consider  them,  and  have  back'd  these 
publick  petitions  with  the  most  assiduous  solicitations  to  the  Gen- 
tlemen concerned. 

They  have  the  satisfaction  to  inform  the  town,  that  their 
labours  have  not  been  all  fruitless,  the  court  have  granted  four 
years  ago  a  loan  of  £3500  —  not  to  be  demanded  back,  if  we 
should  by  the  next  valuation  appear  to  be  over  taxed,  and  also  in 
the  year  1758.  the  house  took  off  the  sum  of  £950  —  from  the  tax 
of  Boston.  Besides  this  as  your  committee  constantly  petitioned 
that  a  valuation  might  be  taken  of  the  province,  their  petitions  oc- 
casioned the  passing  sundry  bills  for  that  purpose,  tho'  unhappily, 
they  were  suspended  by  after  resolves. 

At  length  in  January  last  as  is  well  known,  an  act  passed  for 
taking  such  a  valuation  which  went  into  effect :  And  while  that 
matter  was  under  consideration  of  the  house,  your  committee  had 
diverse  meetings,  and  composed  and  sign'd  one  petition  to  the 
honble.  house  which  they  left  to  the  discretion  of  our  representa- 
tives to  offer  or  not  as  they  should  Judge  expedient  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Town.  Our  representatives  of  whoes  assiduity  attention 
and  application  to  the  business  we  can  bear  the  most  ample  testi- 
mony thought  it  most  expedient  not  to  offer  that  petition. 

At  last  the  house  after  many  debates  and  votes  fixed  our  pro- 
portion of  the  publick  tax  to  be  £112,,  18,,  6  in  the  thousand; 
this  gave  occasion  to  a  new  application  of  your  committee  which 
we  shall  now  explain  and  relate 

The  latter  end  of  the  Year  1755,  the  general  court  passed  a 
resolve  to  this  purpose,  that  each  towns  proportion  of  the  tax  for 
the  Year  1756  and  every  other  year  till  a  valuation  taken  should  be 
finally  adjusted  and  settled  by  the  next  valuation. 

This  resolve  has  been  cited  in  almost  all  the  petitions  we  pre- 
ferred, and  as  we  constantly  presumed  that  this  towns  proportion 
was  greatly  too  high,  we  intimated  that  we  expected  a  large  sum 
[496.]  Would  appear  due  to  us.  When  therefore  the  house 
had  settled  our  proportion  as  Inst  mentioned,  your  committee  pre- 
ferred a  petition   to  the  court,   humbly  claiming   the   sum  that 


$4,  City  Document  No.  88. 

appeared  due  to  us  by  comparing  this  proportion  with  our  taxes 
the  year  1756  —  and  every  year  since,  copy  of  which  we  shall  lay 
before  the  town. 

This  petition  is  now  depending  being  referred  to  the  next  session 
although  (as  your  committee  are  informed)  some  doubt  was  made 
in  the  house  of  our  power  to  prefer  such  a  petition.  This  is  the 
present  state  of  that  affair  which  we  conceived  it  our  duty  to  lay 
before  the  town,  as  it  is  particularly  interesting  to  them,  and  at 
the  same  time  recommend,  to  them,  that  they  would  choose  and 
impower  some  suitable  persons  to  carry  on  this  petition,  and  to 
release  for  some  proper  equivalent  this  demand  of  the  towns,  if  it 
shall  then  be  Judged  most  expedient  for  our  interest. 

The  above  Report  having  been  several  times  read  it  was  unani- 
mously Voted,  that  the  thanks  of  the  town  be  and  hereby  are 
given  to  the  said  committee  for  their  great  care  and  assiduity  in 
pursuing  the  interest  of  the  town,  in  their  several  applications  to 
the  general  court  relative  to  our  heavy  taxes. 

Voted,  that  Joshua  Winslow  Esq.  be  and  hereby  is  appointed 
one  of  the  Committee  for  making  application  to  the  general  court 
with  respect  to  our  heavy  taxes,  in  the  room  of  Ebenezer  Storer 
Esq.  deceased. 

Voted,  that  John  Phillips  Esq.  be  and  hereby  is  added  to  the 
above  Committee. 

Voted,  that  the  Committee  aforesaid  be  and  hereby  are  fully 
hnpower'd  to  make  application  to  the  general  court  at  their  next 
or  any  future  session,  relating  to  the  petition  preferred  by  them  as 
mentioned  in  their  report  as  also  the  demand  this  town  has  for 
[497.]  Taxes  paid  more  than  their  due  proportion  the  year  1756 
and  since  ;  and  that  the  said  Committee  be  further  impowerd  on 
behalf  of  the  town  to  accept  of  sueh  satisfaction  for  the  demand 
aforesaid,  as  they  shall  Judge  equally  advantages  to  the  town. 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  relative  to  filling 
up  the  Dock,  directed  to  the  selectmen,  and  by  them  laid  before 

the  town,  was  read,  and  is  as  follows  —  viz4. 

To  the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen  of  Boston 

It  having  been  Judged  for  some  years  past  to  be  very  necessary 
and  convenient,  that  the  dock  on  the  north  side  of  Faneuil  Hall 
Market  should  be  filled  up,  application  has  been  several  times 
made  to  the  town  for  doing  the  same,  and  in  march  last  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  confer  with  the  abutters  concerning  it, 
who  accordingly  so  did  and  reported  the  same  to  the  town  &  how 
far  the  abutters  had  agreed  said  dock  should  be  filled  up,  which  the 
town  accepted  and  voted  that  said  dock  should  be  filled  up,  so  far 
as  was  mentioned  in  the  report,  and  desired  the  selectmen  to  cause 
the  same  to  be  done  accordingly,  and  the  selectmen  are  now  doing 
it.  Now  Gentlemen  we  are  informed  that  it  was  the  opinion  of 
said  committee  when  they  view'd  said  dock,  and  considered  the 
great  advantages  that  would  arise  to  the  town,  that  it  would  be 
best  that  the  whole  thereof  should  be  filled  up,  though  they  could 
not  at  that  time  prevail  upon  the  abutters  to  consent  to  the  same, 
but  as  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  seem  to  be  sensible 
that  it  must  be  of  great  service  and  benefit  and  as  they  apprehend 


Boston  Town  Records,  1762.  65 

no  disadvantage  to  said  proprietors,  and  may  be  now  easily  done, 
we  therefore  desire  gentlemen,  you  would  as  soon  as  may  be  con- 
vene the  inhabitants  to  take  this  matter  into  consideration,  and 
give  such  orders  for  filling  up  the  dock,  as  may  be  Judged  proper 
and  necessary,  allowing  said  abuttors,  what  may  be  supposed  to 
be  an  adequate  consideration  [498.]  For  any  inconvenience  it 
may  be  to  them,  we  are,  &c. 

Considerable  debate  being  had  on  the  above  proposal  and  re- 
quest, the  Question  was  put,  whether  the  prayer  of  the  Petition 
should  be  granted passed  in  the  negative 

The  Petition  of  Mess".  Bradford  and  Williams  relative  lo  a  Fish 
House,  was  read,  and  after  some  debate  the  Question  was  put, 

whether  the  Prayer  of  the  Petition  should  be  granted passed 

in  the  negative 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  ihe  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
John  Phillips  Esq.  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for  transacting  and 
dispatching  the  Business  of  it 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 

[499.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  Warned  in  pub- 
lick  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  the  Town  House  on  Monday  the 
8th.  Day  of  March  Anno  Domini  1762. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Dr.  Chauncey. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  read. 

Sundry  Laws  enjoined  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting  were  accord- 
ingly read. 

The  Honbte.  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of 
this  Meeting  and  took  the  oath  respecting  his  receiving  and  pay- 
ing Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Governments  of  Connecticut,  New 
Hampshire  and  Rhode  Island,  as  required  by  the  Act  of  the  Prov- 
ince ;  and  the  Meeting  Adjourn'd  to  the  Revd.  Dr.  Chaunceys 
Meeting  House 

William  Cooper  was  unanimously  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the 
Year  ensuing,  and  having  taken  the  Oath  relating  to  his  receiving 
&  paying  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments,  took  the  Oath 
of  Office  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duty,  which  were  admin- 
istred  him  by  John  Phillips  Esq. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  Seven  Selectmen,  and  the 
Votes  being  brought  in  and  sorted  it  appeared  that 
Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 
Samuel  Hews  Esq. 
John  Scollay  Esq. 
Benjamin  Austin  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Sewall 
Mr.  Samuel  Phillips  Savage 

[500.]                Ezekiel  Lewis  Esq. 
were  chose  Selectmen  for  the  ensuing  Year,  and  took  the  Oath  re- 
quir'd  by  Law  relating  their  receiving  and  pa}7ing  Bills  of  Credit 
of  the  Neighbouring  Governments 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear' d  that 


6<J  City  Document  No.  88. 

John  Phillips  Esq. 

Mr.  Isaac  Walker 

John  Barrot  Esq. 

Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Joseph  Gardner  Esq. 

William  Phillips  Esq. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Dolbear 

Mr.  Isaac  Smith 

Meletiah  Bourn  Esq. 

Samuel  Dexter  Esq. 

Mr.  Jonathan  Mason 

Mr.  Henry  Bromfield 
were  chose  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Votes  were  brought  in  for  a  Town  Treasurer,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appear'd  that  Mr.  David  Jeffries  was  unanimously 
chosen,  and  having  taken  the  Oath  relating  to  his  paying  and  re- 
ceiving Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Neighbouring  Governments,  took  the 
Oath  of  Office  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duty,  which  were 
adminstred  him  by  John  Phillips  Esq. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  County  Treasurer,  which 
were  received  and  sealed  up  by  Constable  Thayer,  to  be  by  him 
kept  and  returned  to  the  next  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the 
Peace  to  be  held  for  this  County. 

[501.]  The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Twelve 
Wardens  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that' 

Samuel  Grant  Esq. 

Richard  Clark  Esq. 

Mr.  John  Tudor 

Mr.  Isaac  Smith 

Mr.  David  Jeffries 

Mr.  Jonathan  Mason 

Mr.  Henry  Bromfield 

Mr.  Samuel  Austin 

Mr.  William  Greenleaf 

Mr,  Samuel  Adams 

Mr.  Powers  Meriot 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches 
were  chose  Wardens  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Upon  a  motion  made  and  seconded  —  the  question  was  put  — 
Whether  Collectors  of  Taxes  shall  be  chose  sepperate  from  Con- 
stables    .     .     .     passed  in  the  Affirmative 

Voted,  that  any  Person  chosen  into  the  Office  of  a  Constable  for 
the  Year  ensuing,  may  be  excused  from  serving,  on  his  paying  the 

Sum  of  Four  Pounds 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Constables,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 

Messrs.  Nathaniel  Thayer 

Francis  Salmon 

John  Rogers 

James  Thomas 

John  Wells    " 

Elisha  Byles 


Boston  Town  Records,  1762.  67 

[502.]  William  Darrington 

Stephen  Symms 

Joseph  Shed 

Eliphalet  Parker 

Augustus  Hale 

Andrew  Richie (Excused.) 

were  chose  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

A  Motion  made  and  seconded  that  a  Committee  be  appointed  to 
prepare  a  Petition  to  be  laid  before  the  General  Court,  at  their 
next  Session,  relative  to  the  pernicious  practize  of  forestalling  the 
Market,  after  debate  had  thereon  it  was  Voted,  that 

Samuel  Wells  Esq. 

Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 

James  Otis  Esq. 

Thomas  Green  Esq. 

Mr.  Oxenbridge  Thacher 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  for  that  purpose. 

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant,  viz'.  — 
"That  the  Town  will  take  such  methods,  as  shall  be  Judged 
necessary  for  the  Incorporation  of  it"  the  question  was  put; 
Whether  the  Town  would  take  an}T  such  steps  —  Passed  in  the 
Negative  almost  unanimously. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Nine  Pence  on  the  Pound,  be  and  here- 
by is  allowed  to  such  Persons  as  shall  be  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes 
for  the  Year  ensuing,  for  all  such  Sums  as  they  shall  Collect,  pro- 
vided they  pay  into  the  Town  Treasury  one  half  part  of  the  whole 
Sum  they  are  obliged  to  pay  him,  within  four  months  from  the 
time  they  receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the  Assessors,  and  the  other 
half  part  in  three  Months  after,  and  also  pay  into  the  Province 
and  [503.]  County  Treasuries  one  half  part  of  the  whole  Sum 
they  shall  be  obliged  to  pay  them  respectively  in  Seven  Months 
from  the  time  they  shall  receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the  Assessors 
as  aforesaid,  and  the  other  half  part  in  five  Months  after  ;  and  in 
case  any  of  said  Collectors  shall  fail  paying  in  the  manner  afore- 
said the  Collector  so  failing  shall  not  be  entitled  to  the  aforesaid 
allowance  of  Nine  Pence  on  the  Pound,  but  wholly  forfeit  the 
same,  provided  also  that  each  of  said  Collectors  give  Bond  with 
sufficient  Sureties  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen,  for  the 
faithful  discharge  of  their  duty  in  said  Office,  and  complying  with 

this  Vote, 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  that  the  Sense  of  the  Town 
should  be  taken  upon  the  following  Question  —  Viz'.  —  Whether 
the  Selectmen  shall  be  allowed  a  discretionary  power  as  to  the 
payment  of  the  Premium  to  the  Town  Collectors,  for  the  Collecting 
of  Taxes  in  Years  past,  any  former  Vote  to  the  contrary  notwith- 
standing   Passed  in  the  Affirmative 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Four  Collectors  of 

Taxes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared 

that,  John  Ruddock  Esq. 

M\  Jonathan  Payson 
Mr.  John  Grant 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
were  chose  into  that  Office. 


68  City  Document  No.  88. 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  shall  have  a  discretionary  power  as  to 
the  payment  of  the  Collectors  premiums  for  the  ensuing  Year,  any 

former  Vote  notwithstanding. 

Voted,  that  such  of  the  Inhabitants  as  shall  advance  [503.] 
Moneys  to  the  Town  for  the  use  of  the  Alms-house  on  or  before 
the  15tu  of  April  next,  be  and  hereby  are  allowed  after  the  rate  of 
Six  per  Cent  upon  such  Sums  as  they  shall  so  advance,  said  Mon- 
eys to  be  paid  by  the  Collectors  to  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  to 
be  by  them  laid  out  in  Provisions,  Grain,  and  other  Necessarys 
for  the  use  aforesaid :  And  the  Collectors  are  hereby  Ordered  and 
Impowered  to  discount  those  Sums  together  with  the  allowance 
thereon  out  of  the  said  Gentlemans  respective  Taxes  for  the  Year 
1762. 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Seven  Assessors,  anad 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 
Messrs.  William  Fairfield 

John  Kneeland 

Samuel  Edwards 

Benjamin  Church 

Joseph  Bradford 

William  Torrey 

Jonathan  Brown 

were  chose  into  that  Office. 

It  being  suggested  by  James  Otis  Esq.  one  of  the  Town  Repre- 
sentatives that  in  all  probability  the  next  Session  of  the  General 
Court  would  be  very  short,  the  Town  therefore  Judged  it  prudent 
that  the  aforenamed  Committee  should  defer  laying  the  proposed 
Petition  before  the  General  Court  to  some  future  time,  and  there- 
fore Voted,  that  the  said  Committee  be  and  hereby  are  desired  to 
Report  said  Petition  to  the  Town  at  the  next  May  Meeting  — — 

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warraut  (Viz1.) 
"  Whether  a  Committee  shall  be  appointed  to  audit  the  Accounts 
of  the  Managers  of  the  Lotteries  granted  by  the  General  Court  for 

paving  the  Neck The    Question   was   accordingly   put 

[504.]  Passed  in  the  Negative 

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant  relative  to  Repairing  the  High  Way 
within  the  Fortification  being  considered  It  was  Voted,  that  the 
further  consideration  thereof  be  referr'd  to  Maj^  Meeting,  when 
the  Selectmen  are  desired  to  lay  before  the  Town  such  Papers  as 

relate  to  said  business 

Voted,  that  the  choice  of  Collectors  for  Taxes  be  referr'd  to  4 

0,Clock.  P:  M: 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Fire-Wards,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 

John  Scollay  Esq. 

Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Newman  Grenough  Esq. 

Cap'  Solomon  Davis 

Mr.  William  Cooper 

Mr.  Joseph  Jackson 

John  Rowe  Esq. 


Boston  Town  Kecords,  1762.  69 

Mr.  John  Mico  Wendell 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches 

Thomas  Marshall  Esq. 

Mr.  Samuel  Austin 

were  chose  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted  unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  John  Phillips  Esq.  for  his  faithful  services  as  a  Fire- 
ward  many  Years  past 

Voted,  "that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  3  "'Clock   [505.] 

P:  M:  to  meet  at  the  Town  House 

3  °Clock  P:  M:    Met  according  to  Adjournment 
The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Clerks  of  the  Mar- 
ket, and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that 
Mess™.  Christopher  Clarke 

William  Fallas 

Cornelius  Thayer 

Henry  Hill 

Daniel  Parker 

Peter  Boyer 

Edward  Green 

Benjamin  Henderson 

Samuel  Fletcher 

John  Gill 

William  Fisher 

Thomas  Fleet 
were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Six  Fence  Viewers,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that 
Messrs.  Caleb  Ray 

Thomas  Crafts 

Story  Dawes 

William  Moore 

Benjamin  Eustis 

Onesip.  Tyleston  Esq. 
were  chose  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Town  brought    in   their  Votes  for  twelve   Surveyors  of 
Boards,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that  — 
[506.]    Mess".  William  Nichols 

Isaac  Vergoose 

Eobert  Ford 

Henry  Allen 

Jacob  Thayer 

Clement  Collins 

Andrew  Symms 

John  Grenough 

Caleb  Ray 

John  Langley 

Samuel  May 

Nathaniel  Wales 
were  chose  Surveyors  of  Boards  for1  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Town   brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Scavengers,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 


70  City  Document  No.  88. 

Mess".  Samuel  Sollien 
Thomas  Hayes 
Benjamin  Hodgden 
Jonathan  Lee 
Joseph  Calf 
William  Lowder 
After  Stoddard 
Edward  Carnes 
William  Sutten 
David  Mason 
Edward  Hollyday 
Joshua  Blanchard 

were  chose  Scavingers  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  ten  Cullers  of  Staves,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 
[507.]    Mess".   David  Spear 

Samuel  Barnard 
Joshua  Pico 
Samuel  Treat 
Peter  Cotta 
John  Harskins 
Joseph  Dyer 
Jonathan  Jenkins 
Job  Wheelwright 
Benjamin  Salt 
were  chose  Cullers  of  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mr.  John  Gray     .     .     .     was  chosen  Surveyer  of  Hemp. 
Mess".  Nathaniel  Gardner 
Joseph  Belknap 
were  chose  Informers  of  Deer  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Edward  Curtis 
was  chosen  Hayward  for  the  Year  ensuiug. 
Mess".  Martin  Gay 
David  Cutler 
were  chose  Assay  Masters  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that  no  Tanner, 
Shoemaker  or  Currier  shall  be  chose  as  Sealers  of  Leather. 
Mess".  Adino  Paddock 
Isaac  Casneau 
Isaac  Hawes 
Cornelius  Thayer 
were  chose  Sealers  of  Leather  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[508.]     The  Selectmen 
were  chose  Surveyors  of  the  High  Way  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  four  Hogreeves,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeard  that 

Mess".  William  Scott 

Samuel  Dunkerfield 
Nathaniel  Butt 
Nathaniel  Bird 
were  chose  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq.  John  Scollay  Esq.  and  Mr.  Timothy  Newell 


Boston  Town  Records,  1762.  71 

were  chose  purchasers  of  Grain  for  the  Year  ensuing  and  they  are 
desired  and  impowered  to  give  all  needful  directions  to  the  Keeper 
of  the  Granary,  respecting  the  quantitys  of  Grain  to  be  sold,  and 
affixing  the  price  thereof  from  time  to  time,  as  occasion  shall 
require.  

Voted,  that  the  Assessors  be  and  are  hereby  impowered  and 
directed  to  set  for  the  abatement  of  such  Taxes  as  they  shall  Judge 
reasonable,  on  every  Thursday  till  the  first  Thursday  in  April  in- 
clusive, and  no  longer,  saving  that  they  be  allow'd  to  set  the  two 
last  Weeks  in  November,  for  the  abatement  of  the  Taxes  of  sue  h 
Persons  as  had  not  an  opportunity  of  applying  in  the  above  limited 
time,  by  reason  of  their  being  out  of  the  Province,  at  which  time 
they  are  also  allowed  and  impower'd  to  abate  the  Taxes  of  such 
Persons  as  may  have  died  Insolvent  or  become  Bankrupts,  between 
the  said  last  Thursdaj7  in  April,  and  the  last  Day  of  November. 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  with  such  Persons  as  they  shall  think 
proper  to  invite,  be  a  Committee  to  visit  the  Schools  — 

[509.]  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  are  hereby  desired  to 
look  into  the  Law  relating  Hogs,  and  to  prepare  a  new  By  Law,  to 
be  laid  before  the  Town  next  May  Meeting,  as  also  any  other  By- 
Laws  that  may  be  thought  necessary 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  twelve  Pence  on  the  Pound,  be  and 
hereby  is  allowed  the  Collectors  of  Taxas  for  Collecting  the  new 
Tax  on  Streets 

Voted,  that  the  Bells  at  the  Old  North,  Old  Brick  and  Mr.  Byles's 
Meeting  Houses  be  rang  at  5°.  Clock  in  the  Morning. 

Voted,  that  the  consideration  of  Schoolmaster's  Salarys  and  all 
other  Salarys  and  Grants,  be  referred  to  next  May  Meeting 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  act  upon  the  list  of  Jurors 

Voted,  that  John  Rowe  Esq. 
Mr.  Thomas  Gray 
William  Story  Esq. 
Mr.  Jonathan  Williams 
John  Leaveret  Esq. 
be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the  Ac- 
counts of   Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries,  and  also  the  Accounts  of  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  the  said  Committee  are  enjoined  to 
inspect  every  particular  Account  of  the  Monys  expended  for  the 
use  of  the  Alms  house  ;  they  are  also  impowered  when  they  shall 
Audit   said   Accounts,  to  allow  such  of  the   Overseers   as   shall 
advance  Monys  for  the  relief  of   the  Poor,  Interest  on  all  such 
Sums,  from  the  time  so  advanced,  untill  they  shall  have  Audited 
said  Accompts 

[510.]  The  Committee  appointed  the  10  of  March  last  to 
Audit  the  Accounts  of  Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries,  Report,  that  they 
have  attended  that  service  and  find  the  same  right  cast  and  well 
vouch'd  in  which  he  charges  himself  with  sundry  Eines,  Rents 
and  other  Incomes  of  the  Town,  as  also  with  the  Tax  of  £6000,, 
,, all  which  amount  including  the  Balance  of  Old  Ac- 
count to  £6652,,  13„  11£ 

And  the   said   Treasurer  discharges  himself   by  sundry  abate- 


72  City  Document  No.  88. 

merits  made  the  Collectors ;  by  Drafts  made  by  the  Selectmen 
amounting  to  £3730,,  3,,  6£  of  which  he  has  paid  £2558,,  10,,  7, 
and  by  Drafts  made  by  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  which  con- 
tain the  Charges  of  the  Almshouse  amounting  to  £2104,,  5,,  C£ 
of  which  he  has  paid  £911,,  5,,  10£  amounting  in  all  to 
£8176,,  6,,  !£ 

The  said  Committee  have  inspected  the  said  Drafts,  in  a  very 
particular  manner,  and  have  examined  the  Vouchers  produced  by 
the  Overseers  lor  the  amount  of  their  Drafts,  and  every  other 
branch  of  publick  Charge  all  amounting  as  above  to  the  Sum  of 
£8176,,  6,,  l£  as  by  Account  of  Town  Trcsury  in  the  Town 
Treasurers  Books  balance  whereof  being  £1523,,  12.,  2  is  carried 
to  the  Dr.  of  new  Account ;  which  Report  and  Account  being 
read  Voted,  that  the  same  be  and  hereby  is  accepted 

The  Selectmen  Report  on  the  Account  of  Mr.  John  Fenno 
Keeper  of  the  Granary  for  the  Year  past,  as  entred  in  his  Book 
(and  on  File  in  the  Town  Clerks  Office)  Read,  and  Voted,  that 
the  same  be  accepted,  and  that  Mr.  Fenno  be  accountable  to  the 
Town  for  Two  hundred  and  twelve  bushels  Coin  remaining 
unsold  amounting  to  £33,,  18,,  4|  and  also  for  the  Sum  of 
£433,,  14,,  8J  Cash  now  in  his  hands  exclusive  of  the  Sum  of 
£26,,  13,,  4  for  his  Salary  and  assistance  as  charged  in  his  Ac- 
count which  is  hereby  allowed  him.  

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant,  Viz*.  [511.] 
That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  enquire  what  has  been  the  oc- 
casion of  the  heavy  Expences  of  the  Town  for  several  Years  past, 

and  what  steps  are  necessary  to  be  taken  to  reduce  the  same. 

The  Question  was  put  whether  the  Town  would  appoint  such  a 
Committee  —  passed  in  the  negative. 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  Things  which  shall  remain  unfin- 
ished at  this  Meeting,  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  Gen- 
eral Town  Meeting  In  May  next,  to  be  then  considered  of  and 
acted  upon 

Voted,  unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  the  Honourable  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq.  the  Moderator 
of  this  Meeting  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[512.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders,  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  Qualified  and  Warned  in 
publick  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  the  Town  House  on  Tuesday 
the  11th  Daj7  of  May  Anno  Domini  1762 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd  Mr  Pemberton 

The  Precept  and  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting-Read. 

Sundry  Laws  -  -  -  Read. 

Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  one  of  the  Selectmen  proposed  in  their 
Name  to  the  Inhabitants  Assembled  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of 
one  or  more  Persons  to  Represent  them  in  the  Great  and  General 
Court  or  Assembly  to  be  held  at  Boston  upon  Wednesday  the  26 
Day  of  May  Currant ;  and  in  order  thereto  to  consider  and  ascer- 


Boston  Town  Eecoeds,  1762.  73 

tain  the  number  of  Gentlemen  to  be  Elected  accordingly  it  was 
Voted,  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of  Four  Representatives,  and  then 
it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen,  that  no  Votes  will  be  received 
but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and  that  the}r  propose  the  Poll  shall  be 
closed  at  12  o'Clock. 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  the  number  of  Voters  were  found 
to  be  Six  hundred  twenty  nine,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd 

that  the  four  following  Gentlemen  were  chose  —  Viz* 

Royal  Tyler  Esq.  -         -         -         -     609  Votes 

John  Phillips  Esq.        -  613 

James  Otis  Esq.  -         -         -         -         -     619 
Thomas  Cushing  -----     460 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over  and  declared  [513.] 
By  the  Selectmen,  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and 
bring  in  their  Votes  for  a  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  in  order  that 
the  Town  may  proceed  in  transacting  the  other  affairs  mentioned 
in  the  Warrant;  accordingly  the  Inhabitants  withdrew  and  brought 
in  their  Votes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that  the  Hon- 
ourable Thomas  Hubbard  Esq.  was  chosen.  

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  for  Paving  Long  Lane 
was  read,  whereupon  it  was  Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred 
Pounds  lawful  Money  be  and  hereby  is  granted  the  Petitioners 
upon  condition  that  they  Pave  said  Street  in  the  manner  proposed, 
to  the  approbation  of  the  Selectmen.  

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  the  Masters  of  the  Town  Schools, 
setting  forth,  that  they  meet  with  great  difficultys  in  obtaining 
payment  of  the  several  Salaries  which  the  Town  has  been  pleased 

to  assign  them that  notwithstanding  a  Vote  formerly  passed  for 

their  payment  Quarterly,  they  having  been  to  their  great  distress 
kept  out  of  their  pay  from  Year  to  Year,  and  for  what  they  do 
receive  at  any  time  they  are  obliged  to  the  friendship  of  particu- 
lar Gentlemen,  who  by  the  kind  permission  of  the  Collectors,  are 
willing  to  pay  their  Taxes  into  their  hands,  that  your  Petitioners 
have  some  of  them  nine  some  twelve  and  some  eighteen  Months 
Salary  due  to  them  —  that  they  are  informed  that  the  greatest  part 
of  the  Taxes  belonging  to  the  Town  is  already  paid  in  or  engaged 
to  others,  so  that  they  have  no  prospect  of  any  further  payment 
till  the  new  Taxes  are  issued,  which  tis  probable  will  not  be  done 
till  some  time  in  the  next  Winter  —  that  this  delay  of  payment 
obliges  them  to  purchase  the  nccessarys  of  life  at  a  disadvantage 
[514.]  Upon  long  Credit,  or  to  become  troublesome  to  their 
friends  by  borrowing  Money  for  their  Supplys,  not  to  mention  the 
continual  sollicitude  and  anxiety  which  such  dependant  circum- 
stances necessarily  create.  —  The  same  being  read,  and  duly  con- 
sidered, it  appear'd  to  the  Town  that  the  most  likely  method  to 
answer  the  end  proposed  by  the  Petitioners  must  be  the  raising  or 
borrowing  a  sum  of  Money  sufficient  to  defrey  the  common  and 
extraordinary  charges  of  the  Year  ;  it  was  therefore 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Eight  Thousand  Pounds  be  raised  by  a 
Tax  upon  Polls  and  Estates  within  this  Town  for  relief  of  the 
Poor,  and  defreying  other  necessary  Charges,  arising  within  the 
Town  the  ensuing  Year 


74  City  Document  No.  88. 

A  Motion  made  and  seconded,  that  the  Sense  of  the  Town  should 
be  taken  upon  the  following  Question  —  Viz'.  —  Whether  the 
Town  has  a  right  to  determine  at  this  Meeting,  upon  any  new 
method  for  the  more  speedy  Collecting  of  the  Moneys  voted  to  be 
raised  for  defreying  the  necessary  Expences,  and  Charges  arising 
within  the  Town  the  ensuing  Year  —  the  Question  being  accord- 
ingly put passed  in  yc  Affermative 

A  Motion  boing  made  and  seconded,  the  Question  was  put- 


"Whether  the  Town  Tax  should  be  made  out  by  the  Assessors 
sepperate  from  the  Province  Tax — Passed  in  ye  Negative 

Voted,  that  the  Assessors  be  directed,  that  as  soon  as  possible 
after  they  receive  the  Warrant  for  the  County  &  Province  Tax, 
they  make  out  the  Assesment,  for  raising  the  same  together  with 
the  Town  Tax. 

[515.]  Voted,  that  Mr.  David  Jeffries  Treasurer  of  the  Town 
be  and  he  hereby  is  directed  and  fully  Impower'd  to  borrow  upon 
Interest  of  an}7  Person  or  Persons,  a  Sum  not  exceeding  Fifteen 
hundred  Pounds  lawful  Mony,  for  the  payment  of  the  School- 
Masters  Salarys  now  due ;  the  Wages  of  the  Watch,  as  also  what 
may  be  owing  to  the  Master  of  the  Alms  house ;  the  Money  so 

borrowed  to  be  repaid  in  twelve  Months  out  of  the  £8000. 

now  Voted  to  be  raised  by  a  Tax  upon  Polls  and  Estates  within 
this  Town,  and  give  his  Bonds  or  Notes  as  Security  for  the  pay- 
ment of  the  same  with  the  Interest  thereof,  which  Obligations  the 
Town  do  hereby  promise  and  engage  to  discharge  as  the  same  shall 
become  due 

Voted,  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be,  and  he  hereby  is  directed 
and  Impowered  to  allow  the  several  School-masters  Interest  on  the 
Sums  due  to  them  from  the  date  of  their  Warrants  to  the  time  of 
payment. 

Voted,  that  Mr.  David  Jeffries  Treasurer  of  ye.  Town  be  and  he 
hereby  is  directed  and  Impowered  to  borrow  upon  Interest  a  Sum 
not  exceeding  Nine  hundred  Pounds,  upon  the  terms  and  condi- 
tions exprest  in  the  aforegoing  Vote  for  borrowing  of  £1500 

which  Sum  of  Nine  hundred  Pounds  is  to  be  paid  unto  the  Overseers 
of  the  Poor  for  the  present  supply  and  Relief  of  the  Alms  House 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  an  Overseer  of  the 
Poor,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Isaac  Walker  lately  deceased,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeard  that 

Mr.  William  Whitwell 
was  chosen  into  that  Office  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[516.]  The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Two  As- 
sessors in  the  room  of  Mr.  Samuel  Edwards  deceased,  and  Mr. 
Joseph  Bradford  who  has  resign'd,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  ap- 
peard that, 

Belcher  Noyes  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Downe 
were  chose  into  that  Office  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Town  made  choice  of  Mr.  Samuel  Mc.Clure  for  a  Constable 
in  the  room  of  Mr.  Andrew  Richie  who  was  excused  from  serving 
for  reasons  by  him  offered.  

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allow'd  and  paid 


Boston  Town  .Records,  1762.  75 

unto  Mr.  John  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  South  Gram- 
mar School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly 
as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the 
last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  tbe  Sum  of  Eighty  Pouuds  be  allow'd  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  Peleg  Wiswall  for  his  'Salary  as  Master  of  the  North  Grammar 
School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly  as 
it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allow'd  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  Samuel  Holyoke  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  Queen  Street  for  the  ensuing  Year  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due  and  to  commence  at  the  ex- 
piration of  the  last  Quarter  — — 

[517.]  Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed 
and  paid  unto  Mr.  John  Procter  for  his  Salary  as  a  Master  of  the 
Writing  School  in  Queen  Street,  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be 
paid  him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allow'd  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  Abia  Holbrook  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  the  Common,  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  Quarterby  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  ex- 
piration of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds,  be  allow'd  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  John  Tileston  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North 
Writing  School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
Quarterly,  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expi- 
ration of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allow'd  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  James  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  South  Grammar 
School  for  the  Year  ensuing,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly, 
as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the 
last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  Ephraim  Langdon,  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  North 
Writing  School  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  Quai'- 
terly,  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration 
of  the  last  Quarter.  

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allowed  [518.]  And 
paid  unto  Mr.  John  Vinal  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  Writing 
School  in  the  Common  the  Year  ensuing,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due  and  to  commence  at  the  expira- 
tion of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Thirty  four  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  John  Tileston  Master  of  the  North  Writing  School,  for 
providing  an  Assistant  the  Year  ensuing  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due  and  to  commence  at  the  cxpiratiou 
of  last  Quarter.  

The  Petition  of  Mr.  John  Vinal,  Usher  of  the  South  Writing 
School,  praying  that  a  further  allowance  may  be  made  him,  was 
taken  into  consideration,  whereupon Voted,  that  the  Sum  o/ 


76  City  Document  No.  88. 

Thirty  Pounds  lawful  Mony  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the  Town 
Treasury  unto  Mr.  John  Vinal  as  a  full  consideration  and  recom- 
pcnce  for  his  extraordinary  services  in  times  past 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allow'd  and 
paid  out  of  the  Town  Treasury  unto  Mr.  David  Jeff  ries  for  his  ser- 
vices as  Treasurer  of  the  Town  the  Year  past,  and  for  all  his  Ex- 
pences  in  that  Office. 

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  "Warrant-  -Viz'. 
"  Whether  the  Town  will  take  any  Measures  for  Rebuilding  the 
Fortification  Gates  "  

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  Enlarge  Repair,  or  Re- 
build said  Gates  as  may  appear  to  them  most  convenient  and  ad- 
vantageous for  the  Town 

The  Committee  appointed  the  8th  of  March  last  [519.]  To 
draft  a  Petition  to  the  General  Court,  relative  to  the  pernicious 
practise  of  Forestalling  the  Market,  and  to  lay  the  same  before 
the  Town  at  this  Meeting,  being  prevented  doing  it  by  reason  of 

the   sickness  of  their  Chairman It  was  Voted  that  the  said 

Committee  Viz'. 

Samuel  Wells  Esq. 
Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 
Jamis  Otis  Esq. 
Thomas  Green  Esq. 
Oxenbridge  Thacher  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  desired  and  impower'd  to  prepare  such  a  Peti- 
tion, and  present  the  same  to  the  General  Court  at  their  next  Ses- 
sion. 

The  Selectmen  appointed  a  Committee  the  8th  of  March  last,  to 
prepare  a  By-Law  relative  to  Hogs  ;  Reported  the  following  Draft. 
Viz1. 

It  is  Voted  and  Ordered 

That  no  Hog  or  Swine  shall  be  suffered  to  go  at  large  within  the 
Bounds  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  saving  in  and  upon  the  Land  or 
inclosed  Ground  of  or  in  possession  of  the  Owner  or  keeper  of 
such  Swine  (except  also  such  Swine  that  are  driving  to  Market) 
on  pain  that  such  Owner  or  Keeper  of  such  Hog  or  Swine  shall 
forfeit  and  pay  the  Sum  of  ten  Shillings  for  every  Hog  or  Swine 
that  shall  be  found  going  at  large  contrary  to  this  Order,  or  the 
full  value  thereof  if  not  exceeding  ten  Shillings  ;  one  half  to  him 
or  them  that  shall  seize  and  secure  the  same,  the  other  half  to  the 
Poor  of  this  Town.  Furl  her  it  is  hereby  provided,  that  if  it 
appear  that  the  Owner  or  Keeper  of  such  Hog  or  Swine  be  actually 
in  pursuit  of  it  or  them,  at  and  before  the  Seizure,  then  such 
Owner  or  Keeper  shall  have  his  Hog  or  Swine  released  to  him  by 
such  Persons  who  by  virtue  of  this  Order  had  secured  and  seized 
the  [5130.]  Same,  he  paying  to  such  Seizer,  Two  Shillings,  for 
every  Hog  so  seized  by  him  ;  and  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for 
such  Person  or  Persons  that  are  chosen  to  the  Office  of  Hogrewes 
for  the  time  being,  or  in  their  absence  for  any  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  this  Town,  to  seize  secure  cr  Impound  any  Hog  or  Swine  going 
at  large  contrary  to  this  Order,  and  upon  his  or  their  so  doing 
shall  make  application  to  one  of  his  Majesties  Justices  of  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1762.  77 

Peace  within  this  Town  to  Order  an  Appraisement  Award  and  give 
Judgment  according  to  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  this  Order 


Voted,  that  the  aforegoing  By-Law  and  Order  of  the  Town  be 
presented  to  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  to  be  held 
at  Boston  wi;hin  and  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  for  their  Allow- 
ance and  Approbation 

The  Selectmen  presented  the  following  Draft  of  a  By  Law  rela- 
tive to  Wood  brought  to  Market  in  Carts,  and  Sleds  -  -  Viz'. 

Whereas  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  are  greatly 
imposed  upon  with  respect  to  the  Admeasurement  of  Wood  and 
Bark  brought  to  Market  in  Carts  and  Sleds,  and  there  by  great 
fraud  and  deceit  is  too  often  practised,  for  preventing  the 
same  — 

It  is  therefore  Voted  and  Ordered 

That  from  and  after  the  tenth  Day  of  September  next  ensuing, 
all  Wood  and  Bark  as  they  come  in  to  Town  shall  be  measured, 
and  a  Certificate  of  the  Measure  thereof  shall  be  given  to  the 
Owner  or  Driver  of  the  Cart  or  Sled 

It  is  further  Ordered  —  That  a  suitable  Person  or  Persons  be 
from  time  to  time  appointed  by  the  Selectmen  as  they  shall  think 
fit  to  Measure  all  such  Wood  and  Bark  brought  in  [521.]  Carts 
or  Sleds,  and  the  said  Person  or  Persons  shall  be  under  Oath  to 
do  Justice  between  Buyer  and  Seller,  and  shall  attend  from  Sun- 
rising  to  Sunsetting,  and  shall  make  an  entry  of  all  the  Wood  and 
Bark  they  measure 

And  it  is  further  Ordered,  that  there  be  allowed  to  the  said 
Persons  for  every  load  of  Wood  or  Bark  so  measured  Two 
Pence,  to  be  paid  by  the  Person  who  buys  the  same,  or  in  case  of 
his  absence  at  the  time  of  measuring  then  to  be  paid  by  the  Owner 
or  Driver  of  the  Cart  or  Sled,  who  shall  be  reimbursed  by  the 
Buyer 

It  is  further  Ordered,  That  after  the  tmth  Day  of  September 
next,  if  any  Person  or  Inhabitant  of  the  Town  of  Boston  afore- 
said, that  buy  any  Wood  or  Bark  thus  brought  to  Market,  without 
the  same  be  first  measured  as  above,  he  she  or  they  shall  forfeit 
and  pay  the  Sum    of  three  Shillings  for  every  load  so  bought, 


Voted,  that  the  aforegoing  By  Law  and  Order  of  the  Town  be 
presented  to  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  to  beheld 
at  Boston  within  and  for  (he  County  of  Suffolk,  for  their  allow- 
ance and  approbation 

The  Report  of  the  Selectmen  on  the  Visitation  of  the  Publick 
Schools,  Read,  and  is  as  follows,  Viz1. 

To  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  Boston  in  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  May  11th.   1762. 

Pursuant  to  a  Vote  of  the  Town  of  Boston  at  their  Annual  Meet- 
ing the  10th  of  March  17GI,  desiring  the  Selectmen  to  visit  the 
several  Publick  Schools  in  the  Town,  and  to  invite  such  Gentlemen 
to  accompany  them  therein  [522.]  As  they  should  think  proper, 
and  to  Report  thereon 

We  the  Subscribers  accordingly  attended  that  service  on  Wednes- 


78  City  Document  No.  88. 

day  the  first  Day  of  July  last,  accompanied  by  the   following 

Gentlemen    -     -     -     -     -     -  Viz*. 

His  Excell.  "  the  Governor 
The  Honble.  Samuel  Wells  Esq. 
The  Honble.  Andrew  Oliver  Esq. 
The  Honble.  James  Bowdoin  Esq. 
The  IIonble.  Thomas  Hancock  Esq. 
The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq. 
The  Representatives  of  the  Town 

The  Overseers  of  the  Poor 

Joshua  Winslow  Esq. 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 
Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 
Samuel  Wentworth  Esq. 
Richard  Dana  Esq. 
Belcher  Noyes  Esq. 
John  Avery  Esq. 
William  Tyler  Esq. 
Revd.  Mr.  Hooper 
Mr.  David  Jeffries 
Mr.  William  Winter 
Dr.  John  Sprague 
Mr.  Oxenbridge  Thacher 
Mr.  John  Box 
Mr.  James  Perkins 
Cap1.  Benjamin  Hammatt 
Mr.  Alexander  Hill 
Revd.  Alexander  Cummings 
Revd.  Samuel  Checkley  Esq. 
[523.]  Revd.  Samuel  Cooper 

Revd.  Andrew  Elliot 
Revd.  Ebenezer  Pemberton 
Dr.  Charles  Chancey 
Dr.  Joseph  Sewall 
And  found   the  South   Grammar  School  had    117   Scholars,  the 
North  Grammar  School  57  Scholars,  the  South   Writing   School 
234  Scholars,  the  North  Writing  School  157  Scholars,  the  Writing 

School  in  Queen  Street  249  Scholars  all  in  very  good  order 

Thomas  Cushing 
Samuel  Hews 
John  Scollat 

Benjamin  Austin         }■  Selectmen  of  Boston. 
Samuel  Sewall 
Sam  :  Phill  :  Savage 
Ezekiel  Lewis 

Voted,  that  this  Report  be  accepted,  and  that  the  Gentlemen 
the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  visit  the  Publick  Schools  the  Year 
ensuing,  and  that  they  desire  such  Gentlemen  to  accompany 
them   as  they    shall   think    convenient,   and    that    they   Report 

thereon. 

The  Selectmen  having  agreable  to  order,  laid  before  the  Town 


Boston  Town  Records,  1763.  79 

the  several  Papers  relative  to  the  High  Way  within  the  Fortification, 
and  the  same  being  considered  it  was  thereon  — 

Voted,  that  the  Repairing  or  Paving  said  Way  be  referred  to 
the  Gentlemen  Selectmen,  who  are  hereby  desir'd  and  impowered 
to  act  therein  as  they  shall  Judge  proper. 

[524.]  Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are 
given  to  the  Honourable  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq.  the  Moderator 
of  this  Meeting  for  transacting  and  dispatching  the  Business 
thereof. 

Then  the  Meeting;  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  Publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  14th.  Day  of 
March  Anno  Domini  1763 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Mr.  Mather 


The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -----    read 


Sundr}-  Laws  enjoin'd  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting,  were  accord- 
ingly read. 

James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  and 
took  the  Oath  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving  Bills  of  Credit 
of   the  Governments  of   Connecticut  New  Hampshire    &   Rhode 

Island,  as  required  by  the  Act  of  the  Province 

William  Cooper  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  Year  ensuing, 
and  having  taken  the  Oath  relating  to  his  receiving  [525.] 
And  paying  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments,  took  the 
Oath  of  Office  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duty,  which  Oaths 
were  administred  to  him  by  Foster  Hutchinson  Esq. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  Seven  Selectmen,  and  the 
Votes  being  brought  in  and  sorted  it  appeard,  that 

Thomas  Cushing 

Samuel  Hews 

John  Scollay 

Benjamin  Austin 

Samuel  Sewall 

Ezekiel  Lewis 

Nathaniel  Thwing,  Esq. 
were  chose  Selectmen   for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  it  was  Unanimously  Voted, 
that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to  Mr. 
Samuel  Philips  Savage  for  his  faithful  services  as  Selectman 
sometime  past 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that 

John  Phillips  Esq.  -  - excused 

John  Barratt  Esq. 

Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Joseph  Gardner  Esq. 

William  Phillips  Esq.  -------  excused 

Mr.  Benjamin  Dolbear 


80  City  Document  No.  88. 

Isaac  Smith  Esq. 

Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 

Mr.  Jonathan  Mason 

Mr.  Henry  Bromfield 

Mr.  William  Whitwell 
[526.]  Mr.  Henderson  Inches 

were  chose  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing :  John 
Phillips  &  William  Phillips  Esq :  desired  to  be  excused,  the 
other  Gentlemen   accepted    and    took    the    Oaths    required    by 

Law 

Voted,  Unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and 
hereby  are  given  to  John  Phillips,  and  William  Phillips  Esq.  for 
their  faithful  services  as  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  some  Years 
past- 


The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  two  Overseers  in  the  room 
of  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who  had  declined  serving  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeard  that 

Cap*.  Benjamin  Hammatt 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Storer 
were  chose  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing  — — 

The  Votes  were  brought  in  for  a  Town  Treasurer  and  upon  sort- 
ing them  it  appeared,  that  Mr.  David  Jeffries  was  unanimously 
chosen  and  having  taken  the  Oath  relating  to  his  paying  and  re- 
ceiving Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments,  took  the  Oath 
of  Office  for  the  faithfull  discharge  of  his  fluty,  which  Oaths  were 
administered  him  by  Foster  Hutchinson  Esq 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  the  Question  was  put, 
whether  Collectors  of  Taxes  shall  be  chose  seperate  from  Con- 
stables  passed  in  the  Affirmative 

A  Motion  made  and  seconded  that  the  Town  should  choose  but 

Six  of  the  old  Constables  for  the  present  Year passed  in  ye. 

affirmative  — — 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Wardens,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeard,  that 

[527.]  Nathaniel  Thwing  Esq. 

Mr.  Thomas  Gray 
Samuel  Sewall  Esq. 
Mr.  Joseph  Edwards 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Storer 
Cap1.  Benjamin  Hammatt 
Mr.  Thomas  Grenough 
Mr.  John  Mico  Wendell 
Mr.  Robert  Peirpoint 
Mr.  Daniel  Waldo 
Mr.  John  Pigeon 
Mr.  Samuel  Demining 

were  chose  Wardens  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted,  that  any  Person  chosen  into  the  Office  of  a  Constable  for 
the  Year  ensuing  may  be  excused  from  serving,  on  his  paying  the 

Sum  of  twenty  Shillings 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Constables,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that 


Boston  Town  Records,  1763.  81 

Mess™.  Nathaniel  Thayer     -------    Sworn 

Augustus  Hale     --------        d°. 

ElishaByles   -     -     -".'-     -     -     -    -     -        d°. 

James  Thomas     -     -     -     -    -     -     -     -        d°. 

Francis  Salmon   -     -     -     -     -     -    -     -        d°. 

Abijah  Savage paid  his  fine 

William  Tyler  Kilbey    ------  d°. 

Andrew  Boardinan   -------  d°. 

John  Kinney   -     -  .  -     -     -     --     -     -     Sworn 

John  Wells     -     -     -     -     -    y1/  -     -     -        d°. 

William  Darrington  -     -     -     -  ...-     -     -        d°. 

Samuel  Mc. dure       -     -    -     -    -     -     -     declined 

[528.]    John  Cogswell 
John  Rogers 
Isaac  Bird 
were  chose  Constables  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  3  clock  P.M.  . 

3  O'Clock  P:  M.  Met  according  to  Adjournment 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Nine  Pence  on  the  Pound  be  and  hereby 
is  allowed  to  such  Persons  as  shall  be  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes 
for  the  Year  ensuing,  for  all  such  Sums  as  they  shall  Collect,  pro- 
vided they  pay  into  the  Town  Treasury  one  half  part  of  the  whole 
Sum  they  are  obliged  to  pay  him,  within  four  Months  from  the 
time  they  receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the  Assessors,  and  the  other 
half  part  in  three  Months  alter,  and  also  pay  into  the  Province  and 
County  Treasuries -one  half  part  of  the  whole  Sum  they  shall  be 
obliged  to  pay  them  respectfully  in  Seven  Months  from  the  Time 
they  shall  receive  the  Tax  Bboks  from  the  Assessors  as  aforesaid, 
and  the  other  half  part  in  five  Months  after ;  and  in  case  either  of 
said  Collectors  shall  fail  paying  in  the  manner  aforesaid,  the  Col- 
lector so  failing  shall  not  beentitled  to  the  aforesaid  allowance  of 
Nine  Pence  on  the  Pound  but  wholly  forfeit  the  same ;  provided 
also  that  such  of  said  Collectors  give  Bond  with  sufficient  Sureties 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen,  for  the  faithful  discharge  of 
their  duty  in  said  Office,  and  complying  with  this  Vote. 

Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  shall  have  a  discretionary  power  as 
to  the  Payment  of  the  Collectors  Premiums  for  the  Year  ensuing, 

any  former  Vote  notwithstanding 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes,  for  Four  Collectors  of 
Taxes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that 
[539.],  John  Ruddock  Esq. 

Jonathan  Payson  Esq. 
Mr.  John  Grant 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
were  chose  into  that  Office. 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Seven  Assessors,  ana 

upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Mess™.  William  Fairfield 
John  Kneeland 
Benjamin  Church 
Joseph  Bradford 
Jonathan  Brown 


82  City  Document  No.  88. 

Samuel  Downe 
Belcher  Noyes  Esq 

were  chose  into  that  Office. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Clerks  of  the  Mar- 
ket, and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeard,  that 
William  Holmes  Esq 
Mr.  John  Forsyth 
Benjamin  Edes 
Mr.  Joseph  Belknap 
Mr.  Josiah  Waters 
Mr.  John  Welch 
Mr.  Samuel  Barrett 

Mr.  Daniel  Boyer    -    -     -  (declin'd  serving) 
Mr.  William  Boardman 
Mr.  Thomas  Walley 
Mr.  Samuel  Whitwell 

Mr.  John  Cunningham  -     -  (declin'd  serving) 
were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[530.]     Mr.  John  Gray,  was  chosen  a  Surveyor  of  Hemp. 
Mess™.  Stephen  Wales 
Story  Daws 
William  Crafts 
Benjamin  Andrews 
Thomas  Bay  ley 
Benjamin  Curtis 

were  chose  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mess".  William  Nichols 
Clement  Collins 
Isaac  Vergoose 
John  Skillins 
John  Grenough 
Andrew  Symms 
Nathaniel  Wales 
Jacob  Thayer 
Kichard  Walker 
Henry  Allyne 
William  Payne 
James  Clarke 
John  Langley 
were  chose  Surveyors  of  Boards  and  Shingles  for  the  Year  en- 
suing. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  Seconded,  Voted  that  the  Fence  View- 
ers be  obliged  to  take  the  Oaths  for  a  faithful  discharge  of  their 
duty. 

Mess18.  Cornelius  Thayer 
Joseph  Clarke 
Adino  Paddock 
Isaac  Hews 
were  chose  Sealers  <>f  Leather  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
[531.]        Mess".  Nathaniel  Gardner 
Samuel  Whitwell 
were  chose  Informers  of  Deer  for  the  Year  ensuing. 


Boston  Town  Recobds,  1763.  83 

Mess™.  Peter  Cotta 

Manasseh  Masters 

Joseph  Dyer 

John  Harskins 

David  Spear 

Nathan  Spear 

Jonathan  Jenkins 

Samuel  Treat  "^ 

Robert  Breck  Junr. 

Job  Wheelwright 

Joshua  Pico  / 

Benjamin  Salt  -< 

Paul  Baxter 

John  Owen 

Thomas  Knox 

Samuel  White 
were  chose  Cullers  of  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess™.  David  Simms 

John  Bacon 

were  chosen  Hogrewes  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Edward  Curtis 

was  chosen  Hayward  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Twelve  Firewards,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 
[532.]  John  Scollay  Esq. 

Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Newman  Gronough  Esq. 

Cap'.  Solomon  Davis 

Mr.  William  Cooper 

Mr.  Samuel  Austin 

Mr.  Joseph  Jackson 

John  Rowe  Esq. 

Mr.  John  Mico  Wendell 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches 

Thomas  Marshall  Esq. 

were  chosen  Fire- Wards  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Voted,  That  Application  be  made  to  the  General  Court  by  our 
Representatives,  for  liberty  to  choose  four  Fire-Wards,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  number  allowed  by  Law 

The  Town    brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Scavingers   and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that 
Mess™.  John  Brown 

Thomas  Hitchburne 

Nathaniel  Cobbit 

Thomas  Hase 

Benjamin  Hodgden 

Gershom  Tiuney 

Paul  Farmer 

Jeremiah  Belknap 

Edward  Carnes 

Joseph  Mann 


84  City  Document  No.  88. 


Samuel  Emms 
Joseph  Elliot 
were  chose  Scavingers  for  the  Year  ensuing 
[533.]   Voted,  that  John  Rowe  Esq. 
Joseph  Scott  Esq. 
Mr.  Thomas  Gray 


M%  Jonathan  Williams 
John  Leverett  Esq. 
be  and  they  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the 
Accounts  of  Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries,  and  also  the  Accounts  of  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  the  said  Committee  are  enjoined  to 
inspect  every  particular  Account  of  the  Moneys  expended  for  the 
use  of  the  Almshouse ;  they  are  also  impowered  when  they  shall 
Audit  said  Accounts  to  allow  such  of  the  Overseers  as  shall 
Advance  Moneys  for  the  relief  of  the  Poor,  Interest  on  all  such 
Sums  from  the  Time  so  Advanced  till  they  shall  have  Audited 
said  Accompts.  ;-  ',     ;  .  y 

The  Selectmen 
were  chose  Surveyors  of  the  High  "Ways  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Thomas  Green  Esq.  .  .,     v 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 
John  Scollay  Esq. 
were  chose  Purchasers  of  Grain  lor  the  Year  ensuing,  and  they 
are  desired  and  impowered  to  give  all  needful  directions  to  the 
Keeper  of  the  Grainary  respecting  the  quantities  of  Grain  to  be 
sold  and  affixing  the  price  thereof  from  time  to  time,  as  occasion 
shall  require. 

Mess".  Martin  Gay 
David  Cutler 
were  chose  Assay  Masters  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants  praying  that  the 
Town  would  defrey  the  Charge  of  winding  up  and  taking  care  of 
the  Clock  on  the  Revd.  Mr.  Byles's  Meeting  House,  was  read,  and 
after  [534.]  Debate  had  thereon,  the  Question  was  put,  "  Whether 

the  Prayer  of  the  Petition  should  be  granted Passed  in  the 

Affermative. 

Voted,  That  the  Assessors  be  and  are  hereby  impowered  and 
•directed  to  set' for  the  abatement  of  such  Taxes  as  they  shall  Judge 
reasonable  on  every  Thursday  till  the  first  Thursday  in  April  in- 
clusive, and  no  longer,  saving  that  they  be  allowed  to  set  the  two 
last  Weeks  in  November  for  the  abatement  of  the  Taxes  of  such 
Persons  as  had  not  an  opportunity  of  applying  in  the  above  limit- 
ted  time,  by  reason  of  their  being  out  of  the  Province,  at  which 
time  they  are  also  allowed  and  impower'd  to  abate  the  Taxes  of 
such  Persons  as  may  have  died  Insolvent  or  become  Bankrupts 
between  the  said  last  Thursday  in  April  and  the  last  Day  of  No- 
vember. 

Voted,  That  the  consideration  of  Schoolmasters  Salarys,  and 
all  other  Salarys  and  Grants,  be  referred  to  next  May  Meeting. 

A  Motion  made  and  seconded,  that  a  Committee  be  Appointed 
to  examine  the  state  of  the  Town  Treasury,  and  enquire  into  the 
Expences  of  the  Town  and  whether  any  sayings  can  be  made,  as 
also  to  consider  what  Sum  of  Money  it  may  be  necessary  to  raise 


Boston  Town  Records,  1763.  85 

in  order  to  defrey  the  Charges  of  the  Town  the  ensuing  Year,  and 
that  they  Report  at  the  May  Meeting*  whereupon 
Voted,  That  James  Beautineau 

John  Rowe 

Thomas  Green 

Foster  Hutchinson 

Thomas  Flucker 

William  Story  Esqrs 

Mr.  John  Spooner 

Oxenbridge  Thacher 

Nathaniel  Bethune 

Thomas  Hancock  Esqrs. 
[535.]  John  Avery  Esq. 

Joseph  Green  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  for  that  purpose 

Voted,  That  such  of  the  Inhabitants  as  shall  advance  Moneys 
for  the  use  of  the  Almshouse  on  or  before  the  15  of  April  next, 
be  and  hereby  are  allowed  after  the  rate  of  6  P  C*.  upon  such  Sums 
as  they  shall  so  advance,  said  Moneys  to  be  paid  by  the  Collectors 
to  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  to  be  by  them  laid  out  in  Provisions 
Grain,  and  other  Necessarys  for  the  use  aforesaid ;  and  the  Col- 
lectors are  hereby  Ordered  and  impowered  to  discount  those  Sums 
together  with  the  allowance  thereon  out  of  the  said  Gentlemens 
respective  Taxes  for  the  Year  17G3. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  Voted,  That  Mr.  David  Jeffries 
Treasurer  of  the  Town  of  Boston  be  and  hereby  is  directed  and  fully 
impower'd  to  borrow  upon  Interest  of  any  Person  or  Persons  a 
Sum  of  Money  not  exceeding  Nine  hundred  Pounds,  to  be  paid  to 
the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  present  Supply  and  relief  of  the 
Almshouse,  the  Money  so  borrowed  to  be  repaid  in  twelve  Months 

out  of  the  £8000 Voted  last  May  to  be  raised  by  a  Tax  upon 

Polls  and  Estates  within  this  Town,  said  Treasurer  to  give  his 
Bonds  or  Notes  as  security  for  the  payment  of  the  same  with 
lawful  Interest  which  Obligations  the  Town  do  hereby  promise  and 
engage  to  discharge  as  the  same  shall  become  due. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  That  James  Beau- 
tineau Esq.  and  others  a  Committee  to  enquire  into  the  Expences 
of  the  Town  &c.  be  and  hereby  are  desired  to  assist  the  Town 
Treasurer    in    borrowing     the    above    Sum    of    Nine    hundred 

Pounds  

Voted,  That  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  9  o'Clock  ye.  next 
Morning. 

Tuesday  9  o'Clock  A.  M  :  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

[536.]  Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  Ap- 
pointed a  Committee  to  act  upon  the  List  of  Jurors 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  the  Question  was  put  — 
"Whether  the  Vote  of  Yesterday  relative  to  new  Constables  shall 
be  reconsidered passed  in  the  Negative. 

The  Selectmen  Reported  on  the  Account  of  M*.  John  Fenno 
Keeper  of  the  Granary  for  the  Year  past  which  Account  as  entered 
in  his  Books  (and  on  File  in  the  Town  Clarks  Office)  was  read, 


80  City  Document  No.  88. 

whereupon  it  was  Voted  that  the  same  be  accepted,  and  that  Mr. 
Feuno  be  accountable  to  the  Town  for  135  Hushels  of  Corn,  and 
65  Bushels  of  Rye  remaining  unsold  amounting  to  £44,,  6,,  8,  and 
also  for  the  sum  of  £366,,  17,,  104;.  Cash  now  in  his  hands, 
exclusive  of  the  sum  of  Tweny  six  Pounds  thirteen  Shillings  and 
four  Pence  for  his  Salary  &  assistance  as  charged  in  his  Account, 
which  is  hereby  allowed  him. 

The  Committee  Appointed  the  8th.  of  March  last  to  Audit  the 
Accounts  of  Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries,  Report,  that  they  have  Attended 
that  service  and  find  the  same  right  cast  and  well  vouched,  in 
which  he  charges,  himself  with  sundry  Fines  Rents  and  other 
Incomes  of  the  Town  as  also  with  the  Tax  £8000,,  all  of  which 
amount  to  £9138,,  6 And  the  said  Treasurer  discharges  him- 
self by  sundry  Abatements  made  the  Collectors,  by  Drafts  made 
by  the  Selectmen  amounting  to  £3252,,  7,,  4.  of  which  he  has 
paid  £2045,,  12,,  6,  and  by  Drafts  made  by  the  Overseers  of  the 
Poor  which  contain  the  Charges  of  the  Almshouse  amonting  to 
£1881,,  0,,  0£  of  which  he  has  paid  £795,,  0,,  104;  the  whole 
amounting  to  £7841,,  12,,  8|  including  the  Balance  of  Old 
Accotta. 

The  said  Committee  have  inspected  said  Drafts  in  a  very  par- 
ticular manner,  and  have  examined  the  Vouchers  produced  by  the 
Overseers  for  the  amount  of  their  Drafts,  and  every  other  branch 
of  Publick  Charge,  all  amounting  as  above  to  the  Sum  of  £7841, 
,,12  ,,  8d£  as  by  Account  of  Town  Treasury  in  the  Town  Treas- 
urers Books  [537.]  Balance  whereof  being  £1296  ,,  13  „  3£ 
is  carried  to  the  Credit  of  New  Account.—  Which  Report  and 
Account  being  road 


Voted,  That  the  same  be,  and  hereby  is  accepted. 


Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant.  (Viz1.)  "That 
the  Town  would  determine  upon  some  effectual  method  to  prevent 
the  pernicious  practise  of  forestalling  the  Market. 

Voted,  that  James  Otis  POsq. 

William  Story  Esq. 
John  Tueler  Esq. 
Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Oxenb.  Thacher  Esq.  v 

be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  By  Law 
for  the  remedie  of  the  evil  complained  of ;  and  that  they  Report 
the  next  May  Meeting. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  That  the  Represen- 
tatives of  the  Town  be  desired  to  use  their  influence  at  the  next 
Session  of  the  General  Court,  that  such  a  Law  may  be  Enacted 
as  shall  prevent  the  pernicious  practise  of  forestalling  the  Market.  — 

Voted,  That  Messr3.  Hugh  Floyd,  Jonathan  Hall  and  others,  not 
Inhabitants  of  this  Town,  but  Petitioners,  be  permitted  to  come 
into  this  Meeting  and  speak  to  their  proposal  relative  to  making 
Bricks  &  Tyle  on  Boston  Neck  — 

The  Proposals  of  Mess™  Hugh  Floyd  Jonathan  Hall  and  others 
to  make  Brick  and  Tyle  on  the  Land  on  the  Neck  leased  to  John 
Hill  and  Sam1  Whentworth  Esq.  were  taken  into  consideration, 
and  after  debate  had  thereon,    Voted,  that 


Boston  Town  Records,  1763.  87 

Thomas  Daws  Esq. 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 

Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Fairfield 
[538.]  William  Phillips  Esq. 

John  Avery  Esq. 

John  Tuder  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  whether  it 
will  be  for  the  benefit  and  advantage  of  the  Town  to  permit  the 
making  of  Brick  and  Tyle  on  Boston  Neck,  and  also  to  hear  and 
receive  proposals  from  any  Persons  relative  thereto,  and  that  they 
Report  next  May  Meeting. 

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant.  (Viz4)  "  To 
determine  what  is  proper  to  be  clone  relative  to  the  Incroachments 

on  Circular  Line. 

Voted,  that  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Samuel  Grant  Esq. 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 

Oxenbridge  Thacher  Esq. 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  examine  into  those 
Incroachments,  and  Report  next  May  Meeting. 

The  Proposals  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  respecting  a  Drain 
to  carry  off  the  Waste  Water  from  the  Almshouse  and  Work 
House  being  considered. 

Voted,  That  the  Gentlemen  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  be  and 
hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  take  this  matter  into  con- 
sideration, and  apply  such  relief  as  they  shall  think  proper,  at  the 

Towns  Expence. 

The  Town  took  into  consideration  that  Article  in  the  Warrant 
"Viz4."  Whether  the}"  will  take  on  their  risque  such  "Tickets  in 
"  Faneuil  Hall  Lotter}7,  as  may  remain  unsold  on  the  Day  that 

"  shall  be  Assigned  by  the  Managers  for  drawing  the  same." 

After  considerable  Debate  [539.]  The  Question  was  put  — 
Whether  the  Town  will  take  to  their  Account  and  at  their  risque 
all  such  Tickets  in  Faneuil  Hall  Lottery  N°.  1 .  as  shall  remain 
unsold  on  the  Day  that  may  be  Assigned  by  the  Managers  for 

drawing  the  same Passed  in  the  Affirmative. 

Voted,  That  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  3  o'Clock  P:  M : 


3  O'Clock  P:  M :  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant.  (Viz4.) 
"  Whether  the  Town  will  make  any  allowance  to  Mr.  Solomon 
"  Kneeland  for  his  Land  in  Water  Street,  the  greater  part  of  which 
M  was  taken  from  him  in  order  to  widen  said  Street 

Voted,  that                  William  Story 
William  Tayler 
William  Phillips  —  Esqrs 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  take  this  matter  into 
consideration,  and  Report  next  May  Meeting 

Upon   consideration  of    that  Clause   in   the  Warrant    (Viz4.) 


88  City  Document  No.  88. 

"  Whether  the  Town  will  Rebuild  the  Kitchen  of  the  House  M*. 
John  Lovel  lives  in,  and  enlarge  the  Cellar  under  it  — 
Voted,  that  Samuel  Wells  Esq. 

John  Tuder  Esq. 
Mr.  Jonathan  Williams 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  what  is 
proper  to  be  done  and  Report  at  May  Meeting 
Nathaniel  Thwing  Esq. 
John  Tuder  Esq. 
were  chose  Surveyors  of  Wheat  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess™.  Edward  Cowell 
[540.]  Edward  Potter 

Peter  Ellis 
Robert  Treat 
were  chose  Cullers  of  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing  in  addition  to 
the  sixteen  chose,  see  Page 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  Things  that  remain  unfinish'd  at  this 
Meeting,  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  General  Town 
Meeting  in  May  next  to  be  then  considered  of  and  acted  upon 

Voted,  Unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and 
hereby  are  given  to  James  Otis  Esq  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting 

for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  Publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Tuesday  the  10th.  Day  of 
May  AD:  1763. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Mr.  Byles ■ 

The  Precept  and  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  -  -  read 

Sundry  Laws     -----     read 

[541.]  Thomas  Cashing  Esq.  one  of  the  Selectmen  proposed 
in  their  Name  to  the  Inhabitants  Assembled  to  proceed  to  the 
choice  of  one  or  more  Persons  to  Represent  them  in  the  Great  and 
General  Court  or  Assembly  to  be  held  at  Boston  upon  Wednesday 
the  25th.  Day  of  May  Current,  and  in  order  thereto  to  consider  and 
ascertain  the  number  of  Gentlemen  to  be  Elected,  accordingly  it 
was  Voted  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of  Four  Representatives  and 
then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Votes  will  be  received 
but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and  that  they  propose  the  PolLishould  be 
closed  at  twelve  o'Clock 

The  Votes  being  brought  in,  the  number  of  Voters  were  found 
to  be  1089,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared,  that  the  four  fol- 
lowing Gentlemen  were  chose  -  -  viz'. 

Royal  Tyler  Esq. 809  Votes 

James  Otis  Esq.      -     -     -     -     -     -     989 

Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 899 

Oxenbridge  Thacher  Esq.      -     -     -     716 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen  — 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  3  o'Clock  P.M. , 


Boston  Town  Records,  1763.  89 

3  o'Clock  P :  M  :  The  Town  met  according  to  Adjournment 
The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  a  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  in  order  that  the  Town  may 
proceed  in  transacting  the  other  Affairs  mentioned  iii  the  Warrant ; 
accordingly  the  Inhabitants  withdrew,  and  brought  in  their  Votes, 
and  upon   sorting  them   it  appear'd   that  James  Otis   Esq.  was 

chosen.  

The  Petition  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Long  Wharf  in  the  Town 
of  Boston,  setting  forth,  that  Cap'.  Oliver  Noyes-  and  others  on 
the  19th.  [542.]  Of  December  1709  made  proposals  to  said 
Town  for  building  a  Wharfe  from  the  lower  end  of  King  street 
down  to  low  Water  Mark  &c.  whereupon  the  Town  then  appointed 
their  Selectmen  a  Committee  to  consider  and  Report  their  Opinion 
thereon,  who  took  said  Proposals  under  consideration,  and  at  the 
Annual  Meeting  of  said  Town  on  the  13th.  of  March  1709/10  Re- 
ported in  favor  thereof,  and  that  the  granting  their  request  would 
be  of  publick  and  general  good  to  said  Town,  which  Report  was 
then  accepted  by  the  Town,  and  a  Grant  made  accordingly,  and 
the  Selectmen  were  then  Appointed  a  Commee.  on  behalf  of  said 
Town  to  execute  a  proper  Instrument  in  writing  for  the  confirma- 
tion of  the  Grant  aforesaid  who  executed  said  trust  as  by  their 
Deed  recorded  in  the  Records  of  Deeds  for  the  -County  of  Suffolk 
May  17,  1710  Liber  25.  Folio  48  more  fully  will  appear,  in  which 
Deed  there  is  this  particular  reservation  in  favor  of  your  Peti- 
tioners that  no  Wharfe  beyond  the  Circular  Line  shall  be  permitted 
or  suffered  to  Join,  or  be  forever  built  nearer  than  sixty  feet  of  the 
Waste  or  Flatts  in  said  Deed  granted  to  said  Proprietors.  The 
Petitioners  humbly  pray  leave  to  extend  the  Pier  of  said  Wharfe 
twenty  feet  on  the  North  side  of  said  Wharfe,  and  that  a  Grant 
might  be  made  them  of  the  same,  accordingly  they  have  at  a 
Meeting  of  said  Proprietors  on  Wednesday  the  4th.  of  May  Instant 
Voted  that  if  leave  be  given  by  the  Town  to  extend  the  North  side 
of  the  Pier  twenty  feet,  they  would  Erect  an  additional  Building  to 
each  Store  of  Seven  feet  Stud  agreable  to  Law,  which  if  the  same 
should  be  effected  would  be  of  undoubted  service  to  the  Town,  in 
some  measure  in  proportion  as  the  Long  Wharf  has  been.  Had 
not  the  Petition  aforesaid  of  1709  been  granted,  but  the  Flatts  then 
had  continued  Flatts  now,  it  is  certain  no  advantage  from  them 
would  have  accrued  to  the  Town  in  general  or  to  any  of  its  Mem- 
bers, but  the  advantage  to  both  in  consequence  of  said  Grant  are 
too  obvious  even  to  be  mentioned :  And  with  respect  to  the  Flatts 
now  petitioned  for  its  manifest  they  are  of  no  benefit  at  present 
nor  ever  will  be  to  the  Town  or  any  one  Individual  without  this 
Petition  be  granted  [543.]  Because  the  Town  nor  any  one  hath 
any  right  to  build  upon  them,  but  if  the  Prayer  of  this  Petition  be 
granted,  then  the  additional  Buildings  thereon  and  the  profits 
arising  therefrom  will  in  an  ordinary  way  be  of  advantage  to  the 
Owners,  and  if  of  advantage  to  the  Members  of  a  Body,  of  conse- 
quence it  must  be  to  the  Body  itself,  the  Body  always  sharing  in 
the  advantages  or  disadvantages  of  its  Members.  Wherefore  in 
as  much  as  the  Town  cannot  be  served  by  the  Flatts  remaining  as 
they  are  at  present  in  as  much  as  by  a  Vote  of  the  Town,  neither 


90  City  Document  No.  88. 

the  Town  nor  any  one  hath  right  to  build  thereon  your  Petitioners 
excepted,  and  not  them  without  leave  from  the  Town,  which  if 
obtaind  may  be  of  advantage  to  them,  and  consequently  to  the 
Town  —  Your  Petitioners  humbly  hope  that  the  prayer  of  their 
Petition  may  be  granted,  and  your  Petitioners  as  in  duty  bound 
shall  ever  pray 

Considerable  debate  being  had   upon    the    above   Petition,  the 

Question  was  put.  Viz1. Whether  the  same  shall  be  referred 

to  a  Committee Passed  in  the  Affirmative 

Voted,  that  The  Honble.  Thomas  Flucker  Esq. 
The  Honble.  Harrison  Gray  Esq. 

Oxenbridge  Thacher  Esq. 
William  Phillips  Esq. 
Thomas  Green  Esq. 
be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  of  the 
above  Petition  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Long  Wharf e  in  Boston, 
and  Report  at  the  next  General  Town  Meeting,  what  they  appre- 
hend the  Town  had  best  do  thereon 

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant  relative  to  Faneuil  Hall  Market 
being  considered,  the   Question  was   put  —  Whether  the   further 

consideration  thereof   be  referred  to  March  Meeting Passed 

in   the   Negative It   was   then    moved    and    seconded    that 

Faneuil  Hall  Market  should  be  [544.]  Opened  by  the  Selectmen 
as  soon  as  it  shall  be  so  repair'd  that  the  Butchers  and  others 
might  bring  their  Provisions  into  it  without  interruption  —  and  the 
Question  being  accordingly  put Passed  in  the  Affirmative ■ 

The  Committed  Appointed  the  14th.  Day  of  March,  last  to  pre- 
pare a  By  Law  relative  to  forestalling  the  Market — Report 

That  having  met  and  considered  of  the  Matter  referred,  find  that 
as  far  as  a  By-Law  may  serve  the  purpose  within  mentioned ; 
sufficient  provision  is  already  made  in  the  By-Laws  of  this  Town : 
and  that  the  great  mischief  therein  mentioned  can  only  be  suppres'd 
by  an  Act  of  the  General  Court  of  this  Province — Wherefore  the 
said  Committee  Report,  that  it  be  an  Instruction  to  the  Represen- 
tatives to  be  chosen  at  this  Meeting  that  they  use  their  utmost 
endeavors  that  such  a  Law  be  enacted. — 

The  above  Report  having  been  read,  it  was  Voted,  that  the  same 
be  accepted,  and  that  the  Gentlemen  who  Represent  the  Town  be 
and  they  hereby  are  desired  to  use  their  utmost  endeavors  in  the 
General  Court  that  such  a  Law  be  Enacted. — — 

The  Committee  appointed  the  14th-.  of  March  last  to  examin  into 

the  incroachments  on  the  Circular  Line  having  Reported It 

was  Voted  that  the  same  be  recommitted,  and  said  Committee  are 
desired  to  make  further  enquiry  relative  to  those  incroachments 
and  Report  the  next  General  Town  Meeting 

The  Committee  appointed  the  14th.  of  March  last  to  enquire  in  to 
the  Expences  of  the  Town,  and  whether  any  savings  can  be  made 
as  also  to  consider  what  Sum  of  Money  it  may  be  necessary  to 
raise  in  order  to  defrey  the  Charges  of  the  Town  the  ensuing 
Year  —  Report  as  follows 

That  they  have  attended  that  service  and  after  due  [545.] 
Information  from  the  Selectmen  Overseers  of  the  Poor  and  Town 


Boston  Town  Recoeds,  1763.  91 

Treasurer,  all  of  whom  appear  to  have  served  the  Town  with 
fidelity,  they  offer  the  following  Report,  viz'. 

That  there  appeard  to  be  due  to  the  Town  from  the  respective 
Collectors  of  Taxes  to  the  25  of  April  last  Sis  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  four  Pounds,  but  as  the  said  Collectors  had  not  then 
been  paid  their  Premium  for  the  Year  1761.  which  with  what  will 
be  due  to  them  for  Premiums  for  1762.  amounts  to  one  Thousand 
and  eighty  five  Pounds  four  Shillings  and  six  Pence,  and  as  they 
are  to  be  allowed  for  the  abatements  made  and  to  be  made  in  that 

Year,  which  the  Assessors  estimate  at  about  £1000 the  sum 

really  due  from  them  will  then  be  four  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  eighteen  pounds  fifteen  shillings  and  six  pence  for  the  taxes  of 
the  year  1762  which  when  received  by  the  treasurer,  will  discharge 
every  demand  upon  him  to  the  11th.  of  March  last,  and  leave  a  bal- 
lance  in  favor  of  the  town  of  two  thousand  and  thirty  four  pounds 
one  shilling  and  eight  pence,  besides  this  the  town  has  the  further 
sum  of  four  hundred  pounds  in  the  hands  of  the  committee  for 
purchasing  grain,  and  one  hundred  and  seventy  two  pounds  lent 
the  society  of  the  linnen  manufacture,  &  a  stock  of  powder,  &c.  of 
the  value  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  six  pounds,  which  three  last 
suras  amount  to  seven  hundred  and  twenty  eight  pounds. 

Your  committee  find  that  the  overseers  accounts  for  supporting 
the  poor  in  and  out  of  the  alms  house  for  the  year  1762  amounted 
to  £2110  ,,  —  ,,  —  they  also  find  that  the  usual  incidental  charges 
paid  by  the  Selectmen  for  repairs  for  the  towns  estates  &c.  are 
about  four  hundred  pounds  annually,  which  together  with  the  stated 
salarys  charges  of  collecting  the  taxes,  assessors  &c.  make  the 
towns  certain  expence  as  things  now  are,  four  thousand  six  hun- 
dred and  forty  three  pounds,  they  find  further  that  the  town  re- 
ceived from  the  province  treasurer  for  the  support  of  the  province 
poor  in  the  alms  house  four  hundred  and  ninety  pounds,  and  that 
the  towns  rents  amount  to  £223  —  p  annum  and  the  taxes  re- 
ceived from  strangers  upon  an  average  to  be  £210  ,,-—,,- — 
yearly,  and  that  there  was  expended  for  pavement  at  the  [546.] 
Almshouse  the  last  year  £60  ,,  —  ,,  —  the  whole  whereof  being 
£983  ,,  —  ,,  —  leaves  £3660  ,,  —  ,,  — to  be  raised  by  the  town 
exclusive  of  anjT  provision  for  necessar}T  abatements,  and  extra 
expences  — 

Pa:  l8t.     Your   committee   are   of  opinion  that  £120  ,,  —  ,, 

—  p  Annum  may  be  saved  of  the  aforementioned  expence  by  re- 
ducing the  number  of  watchmen  from  the  present  establishment  to 
four  captains  at  twenty  four  pounds  p  annum  and  sixteeu  others 
at  eighteen  pounds  a  year  each,  which  will  cost  but  £384  ,,  —  ,, 

—  instead  of  £504  ,,  —  which  is  the  present  charge.  — — 

2d.  They  are  further  of  opinion  that  in  future  the  tax  may  b3 
collected  for  three  p  ca.  which  will  save  £100  ,,  —  ,,  —  p  Year, 
and  that  at  least  £200  ,,  —  more  may  be  saved  yearly  when  the 
treasurer  shall  be  in  cash  for  the  aforementioned  ballance  of  £2034 
,,  1  ,,8  which  your  committee  are  of  opinion  should  remain  as  a 
stock  in  the  treasury  for  a  constant  fund  to  be  made  use  of  by  the 
selectmen  and  overseers  of  the  poor,  as  they  may  find  it  necessary 
for  the  benefit  of  the  town,  but  on  this  express  condition  that  such 


92  City  Document  No.  88. 

sums  as  they  shall  draw  from  it  be  replaced  out  of  the  moneys 
raised  annually  by  the  town. 

3d.  Your  committee  are  further  of  opinion  that  there  be  raised 
the  sum  of  four  thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty  pounds  agreable 
to  the  estimate  here  unto  annexed,  wherein  is  included  £175  ,,  — 
,,  —  for  rebuilding  the  kitchen  of  the  house  where  Mr.  John  Lovel 
lives  in  case  the  town  should  think  proper  to  do  it,  in  this  estimate 
ample  provision  is  made  for  every  charge  that  can  be  supposed  to 
arise,  and  three  hundred  pound  is  included  as  a  fund  for  abate- 
ment of  taxes  

Your  committee  find  by  certificate  from  the  province  treasurer 
that  there  is  now  due  to  the  province  for  the  year  1761.  four  thou- 
sand and  thirty  two  pounds  five  shillings  and  seven  pence  viz4.  — 

[547.]  From  John  Ruddock  Esq.  -  -  -  -  £883  „  10  „  4 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams  -  -  -  -  2179,,  1  ,,  10 
Mr.  Jonathan  Payson    -     -     -       969  ,,  —  ,,  — 


4032  ,,    5  ,,    7 
And  the  whole  tax  for  the  year  1762    -    -    -    -    8570  ,,  13  ,,    7 


12602  ,,  19  ,,  2 

which  with  the  aforesaid  sum  due  to---}       4170      15  a 
the  town  treasurer  of       ------  J 

makes -     -    -     -      £17321  ,,    4  „  8 


Pa  4th.  Your  committee  are  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  very 
much  for  the  interest  of  the  town  to  have  the  taxes  made  in  the 
months  of  July  and  August,  and  the  books  delivered  to  the  collec- 
tors in  September  as  they  will  then  have  a  sufficient  time  to  receive 
the  money,  and  settle  with  the  respective  treasurers  by  the  begin- 
ing  of  march 

5th.  And  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  committee  that  the  town 
should  strictly  adhere  to  their  votes  passed  respecting  the  several 
periods  and  proportions  in  which  the  collectors  are  obliged  to  pay 
the  respective  treasui^s,  in  order  to  entitle  them  to   any  premium 

6°\  Your  committee  are  of  opinion  that  in  future  there  be  six 
collectors  of  taxes,  which  will  enable  them  to  do  the  business  with 
greater  Tacility,  as  each  of  them  will  have  but  two  wards  to  collect 
from 

7th.  Your  Committee  are  further  of  opinion  that  the  assessors 
be  not  allowed  more  than  two  months  to  make  abatements,  after 
the  books  are  delivered  to  the  collectors  and  that  no  abatements 
be  made  after  that  time  to  any  person  but  such  as  shall  be 
out  of  the  province  during  the  said  two  months,  and  that  the 
assessors  in  making  their  abatements  have  particular  regard  to  the 
sum  raised  by  the  town  as  a  fund  for  that  purpose  &c. 

This  Report  being  read  and  debate  had  thereon,  it  was 

[548.]  Voted,  that  the  same  be  considered  of  paragraph  by 
paragraph,  and  thereupon  the  first  paragraph  being  again  read 

Voted,  that  the  same  be  accepted 

Then  the  2d.  Paragraph  being  read,  and  debate  had  thereon 


Boston  Town  Kecords,  1763.        93 

Voted,  that  that  part  thereof  which  relates  to  the  premium  for 
collecting  of  the  taxes  be  referred  for  further  consideration  to  the 
next  General  Town  Meeting.  And  that  the  other  part  relative  to 
a  6um  of  Money,  remaining  as  a  stock  in  the  Treasury  for  the  use 
of  the  Selectmen  and  Overseers  of  the  Poor  be  accepted 

Then  the  3d.  Paragraph  being  read  and  debated 

Voted,  That  the  same  be  accepted  with  this  amendment  and 
addition.  Viz'.  That  the  sum  of  Four  thousand  six  hundred 
Pounds  be  raised  by  a  tax  upon  Polls  and  Estates  within  this  Town 
for  relief  of  the  Poor  and  defreying  other  necessary  charges  aris- 
ing within  the  Town  the  ensuing  Year  

The  4th.  Paragraph  being  read  and  debated 

Voted,  that  the  same  be  accepted 

The  5th.  Paragraph  being  read  and  debated 

Voted,  That  the  same  be  referred  over  to  the  next  General 
Town  Meeting  for  further  consideration 

The  6th.  Paragraph  being  read  and  debated  — 

Voted,  That  the  same  be  referred  over  to  the  next  General 
Town  Meeting  for  further  consideration 

The  7th.  and  last  Paragraph  being  read  and  debated 

Voted,  That  the  same  be  accepted 

The  Committee  appointed  the  14th.  Day  of  March  last  relative 
to  Mr.  John  Lovels  Kitchen  and  the  Cellar  under  the  same  — 
Report  —  That  they  had  examined  the  Premisses  and  find  that 
the  Kitchen  is  small  and  uncomfortable  and  wants  repair,  and  as 
there  is  no  Cellar  only  under  one  Room  of  the  House  there  had 
been  many  difficultys  for  want  of  more,  but  if  the  Town  should 
think  [549.]  Proper  to  build  a  new  Kitchen,  it  was  their  Opinion 

that  it  is  very  necessary  to  make  a  Cellar  under  the  same 

This  Report  being  read  and  debate  had  thereon,  the  Question  was 
put,  Whether  the  Kitchin  of  the  House  Mr.  John  Lovel  lives  in 
should  be  repair'd passed  in  the  affermative. 

It  being  moved  that  the  above  Vote  be  reconsidered  and  the 
Question  accordingly  put,  it  passed  in  the  affermative 

It  was  then  Voted,  that  Mr  John  Lovels  Kitchen  be  Re-built 
with  a  Cellar  under  the  same,  and  that  the  Selectmen  be  and 
hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  see  this  Vote  carried  into  exe- 
cution 

The  Committee  Appointed  the  14th.  Day  of  March  last  to  con- 
sider of  the  Proposals  of  Hugh  Floyd  Jonathan  Hall  and  others 
to  make  Brick  and  Tile  on  the  Land  on  the  Neck  leased  to  John 
Hill  and  Samuel  Whentworth  Esqrs.  —  Report  —  That  they 
bad  repaired  to  the  Land  on  Boston  Neck  leased  to  John  Hill  and 
Samuel  Whentworth  Esq.  and  there  met  with  the  within  named 
Jonathau  Hall  only,  who  declared  he  had  no  Proposals  to  make 
concerning  the  making  Brick  &  Tile  on  the  said  Land  —  and 
further,  that  in  their  Opinion  it  would  not  be  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Town  to  permit  the  making  of  Brick  and  Tyle  on  said 
Neck.  

The  above  Report  having  been  read  and  debate  had  thereon  it 
was  Voted,  that  the  same  be  accepted 

The  Committee  Appointed  the  14th.  of  March  upon  the  affair  of 


94  City  Document  No.  88. 

Mr.  Solomon  Kneelands  Land  in  Water  Street  having  Reported 
—  It  was  Voted  that  the  same  he  Recommitted,  and  said  Com- 
mittee are  desired  to  Report  again  the  next  General  Town  Meet- 
ing  

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Twenty  Pounds  be  &  hereby  is  allowed 
Mr.  John  Lovel  Master  of  the  South  Grammar  School  in  addition 
to  his  [550.]  Last  Years  grant  for  which  he  has  already  had  a 
draft  on  the  Treasury,  as  through  mistake  £100  ,,  —  ,,  — instead 
of  £120 was  then  Voted  him 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  One  hundred  and  twenty  Pounds  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  Mr.  John  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of 
the  South  Grammar  School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be 
paid  him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at 
the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  Peleg  Wiswallfor  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North 
Grammar  School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expira- 
tion of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  Samuel  Holyoke  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  "Writing 
School  in  Queen  Street  for  the  Year  ensuing,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  John  Procter  for  his  Salary  as  a  Master  of  the 
Writing  School  in  Queen  Street  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to 
be  paid  him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at 
the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  Abia  Holbrook  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  the  Common  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

[551.]  Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed 
and  paid  unto  Mr.  John  Tileston  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the 
North  Writing  School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  James  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  South  Grammar 
School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly  as 
it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  Ephraim  Langdon  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  North 
Grammar  School  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  Quar- 
terly, as  the  same  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  John  Vinal  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  Writing 
School  in  the  Common  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 


Boston  Town  Records,  1763.  95 

quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expi- 
ration of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  8um  of  Thirty  four  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  John  Tilestou  Master  of  the  North  Writing  School  for 
providiug  an  Assistant  for  the  Year  ensuing,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 

expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  out  of  the  Town  Treasury  unto  Mr.  David  Jeffries  for  his 
services  as  Treasurer  of  the  Town  the  Year  past,  and  for  all  his 
Expences  in  that  Office. 

Mr.  Jacob  Williams 
was  chosen  a  Culler  of  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[552.]  Voted,  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  and  hereby  is 
directed  and  impowered  to  allow  the  several  Schoolmasters,  Interest 
on  the  Sums  due  to  them  from  the  date  of  their  Warrants  to  the 

time  of    payment. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  8th.  of  March  1762  to  Visit  the 

Publick  Schools,  now  Report  as  follows  —  Viz'. 

To  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  Boston  in  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  May  10.  1763  — 

Pursuant  to  a  Vote  of  the  Town  of  Boston  at  their  Annual 
Meeting  the  8th.  of  March  1762,  desiring  the  Selectmen  to  visit  the 
several  Publick  Schools  in  the  Towu,  and  to  invite  such  Gentle- 
men to  accompany  them  therein  as  they  shall  think  proper,  and  to 
Report  thereon 

We  the  Subscribers  accordingly  attended  that  service  on  Tues- 
day the  29th  day  of  June  last,  accompanied  by  the  following  Gentle- 
men Viz*. 

The  Honble :  William  Brattle  Esq. 
John  Erving  Esq. 
Thomas  Hubbard  Esq. 
Thomas  Hancock  Esq. 
The  Representatives  of  the  Town 
The  Overseers  of  the  Poor 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
Richard  Dana  Esq. 
Middlecot  Cook  Esq. 
Jeramiah  Gridley  Esq. 
Joseph  Dowse  Esq. 
Epps  Sergeant  Esq. 
Roger  Hale  Esq. 
Richard  Clark  Esq. 
William  Story  Esq. 
William  Blair  Townsend  Esq. 
[553»]  John  Erving  Esq. 

Mess™ :  John  Dennie 

Alexander  Hill 
William  Greenleaffe 
Oxenbridge  Thacher 
Samuel  Adams 
David  Jeffries 


96  City  Document  No.  88. 

Benjamin  Hammatt 
Limers  (a  Stranger) 
Revd.  Alexander  Cummins 
Samuel  Cooper 
Mather  Byles 
Mr.  Gorden  (Stranger) 
Ebenezer  Pemberton 
Andrew  Elliot 
Samuel  Mather 
Samuel  Checkley  Junr. 
Samuel  Checkley 
Dr.  Jonathan  May  hew 
Charles  Chauncey 
Joseph  Sewall 
And  found  the  South  Grammar  School  had  119  Scholars,  the 
North  Grammar  School  68  Scholars,  the  South  Writing  School  236 
Scholars,  the  North  Writing   School   176   Scholars,  the  Writing 

School  in  Queen  Street  238  Scholars,  all  in  very  good  order. 

Thomas  Gushing  "| 
John  Scollat 

Benjamin  Austin  }>  Selectmen  of  Boston 
Samuel  Sewall 
Ezekiel  Lewis      J 
Voted,  that  the  above  Report  be  accepted,  and  that  the  Gentle- 
men the  Selectmen,  be  desired  to  visit  the  Publick   Schools  the 
Year  ensuing  [554.]  And  that  they  desire  such  Gentlemen  to  ac- 
company them  therein  as  they  shall  think  convenient ;  and  that  they 
Report  thereon. 

Messw.  William  Fisher 
Peter  Boyer 
were  chose^Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mess".  Edward  Baker  ------    Sworn 

Matthew  Wakefield  do 

John  Edwards 
were  chose  Constables  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mr.  Jonathan  Blake 
was  chosen  a  Sealer  of  Leather  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  Things  that  remain  unfinished  at  this 
Meeting  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  next  General  Town 
Meeting. 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for  dispatching  the 
business  thereof. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  Publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Tuesday  the  6th  Day  of 
September  Anno  Domini  1763. 

[555.]     The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting was  read. 


Boston  Town  Kecords,  1763.  97 

James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  written  Vote. 

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant  Viz'.  "  That 
"  some  Measures  might  be  taken  that  a  certain  slip  of  Land  lying 
on  the  North  side  of  Water  Street,  may  be  annexed  to  said  Street ' 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  and  accordingly  put Whether  a 

Committee  shall  be  Appointed  to  take  this  matter  into  consideration 
and  to  Report  the  next  Meeting Passed  in  the  Negative 

Then  a  Question  was  put  —  Whether  the  Town  would  take  any 
Measures  that  a  certain  slip  of  Land  lying  on  the  North  side  of 

Water  Street,  may  be  Annexed  to  said  Street Passed  in  ye. 

Negative. 

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant.  Viz'.  "  That  some  Methods  may  be 
taken  to  remove  the  Nusance  in  the  Passage  Way  from  the  Main 
Street  leading  to  the  Common  called  Hog  Alley  "  was  considered 
and  after  Debate  had  thereon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  enquire  into  this  matter,  and  Report  at  the  Adjournment 
of  this  Meeting,  the  circumstances  thereof,  and  what  they  may  ap- 
prehend best  to  be  done  thereon. 

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant.  Viz'. 
"  Whether  any  Methods  should  be  taken  to  preserve  Deer  Island 
Head  from  the  further  Incroachments  of  the  Sea" 

Voted,  that  Joshua  Henshaw 

Royal  Tyler 
Samuel  Wells 
Samuel  Wentworth 
Nathaniel  Wheelright  Esqrs. 
be  and  the%y  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  examine  into  the 
present  Circumstances  of  Deer  Island  Head,  and  to  make  a  true 
representation  [556.]  Thereof    to  the   General  Court  at   their 
next  Session  ;  at  the  same  time  setting  forth  of  what  importance 
it  is  to  the  trading  Interest  of  this  Province  that  said  Head  Land 
and  thereby  this  Harbour  should  be  preserved  from  the  ruin  that 
now  threatens  them ;  and  praying  that  such  speedy  and  effectual 
methods  may  be  taken  for  this  purpose,  as  the  General  Court  in 
their  Great  Wisdom  shall  think  meet. 

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant.  Viz*. 
"  Whether  any  more  effectual  Measures  shall  be  taken  for  the  pre- 
"  venting  Chimnies  so  frequently  taking  Fire" 

Voted,  that             Joshua  Ilenshaw  Esq. 
Thomas  Daws  Esq. 
Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
Mr.  Benjamin  Dolbear 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed    a  Committee,  to   consider  of  the 
Scheem  which  Thomas  Daws  Esq,  has  laid  before  the  Town  rela- 
tive to  this  matter  ;  as  also  of  any  other  Proposals  that  may  come 
before  said  Committee ;  and  that  they  Report  at  the  Adjournment 
of  this  Meeting,  what  Measures  they  apprehend  most  expedient  to 
be  taken  for  the  purpose  aforesaid. 

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant.  Viz'.  "  Whether  any  further  step 
"  can  now  be  taken  for  the  more  speedy  and  effectual  supplying 


98  City  Document  No.  88. 

*'  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  with  Money  for  the  purchasing  Neces- 
"  sarys  for  the  Almshouse,  being  considered,  the  Question  was 
"  accordingly  put  —  Whether  auy  such  step  could  now  be  taken 
"  Passed  in  the  Negative." 

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant,  Viz*.  "  Whether  the  Town  will  im- 
"  prove  the  Indulgence  of  the  General  Court,  which  by  a  [557.] 
"  Late  Law  permits  them  to  Elect  and  Appoint,  Four  meet  Per- 
"  sons  as  Fire-Wards,  in  addition  to  the  present  number  of  twelve 
"  &c."  being  Read,  it  was  Voted,  that  the  Consideration  thereof  be 
referred  over  to  the  next  March  Meeting. 

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant  relative  to  a  Bill  now  pending  in  the 
General  Court  directing  how  Rates  and  Taxes  shall  be  Assessed 
and  Collected  &c.  &c.  being  read,  it  was  Voted  that  the  considera- 
tion of  this  Matter  be  referred  over  to  the  Adjournment  of  this 
Meeting,  Also  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  get  printed, 
and  dispers'd  amongst  the  Inhabitants,  Copys  of  the  Bill  now 
pending  before  the  General  Court  relative  to  some  new  power  being 
given  the  Collectors  of  Taxes.  

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Wednesday  the  Twenty 
first  Instant  at  Nine  O'clock  in  the  Forenoon,  and  the  same  was 
Adjourned  accordingly. 

Wednesday  September  21  9.  O'Clock  in  the  Forenoon,  the  Town 

Met  according  to  Adjournment 

The  Committee  Appointed  the  10th  of  May  last  upon  the  affair 
of  Mr.  Solomon  Kneelands  Land  in  Water  Street  Report —  That 
having  met  Mr.  Kneeland  and  viewd  the  Land  taken  from  him  to 
widen  the  Street  are  of  Opinion,  That  the  said  Solomon  Kneeland 
be  allowed  the  Sum  of  Six  Pounds  Seventeen  Shillings  and  four 
Pence  for  the  Land  taken  from  him  and  added  to  Water  Street ; 
whereupon  Voted  that  the  said  Report  be  and  hereby  is  accepted, 
and  that  Mr.  Kneeland  have  a  Draft  on  the  Treasurer  accordingly. 
That  Clause  in  the  Warrant  relative  to  a  Bill  now  pending  in 
the  General  Court,  which  relates  to  the  Collecting  of  Taxes,  was 
read,  [&58.~]  And  after  debate  had  thereon,  the  Question  was 
put Viz*.  "Whether  the  Town  approve  of  the  Bill  now  pend- 
ing in  the  General  directing  how  Kates  and  Taxes  shall  be  Assessed 
and  Collected  &c.  in  its  present  form Passed  in  the  Nega- 
tive. 

Report  of  the  Committee  relative  to  the  Longe  Wharf e  was  read, 
and  after  debate  had  theron,  it  was  Voted  that  the  further  Con- 
sideration thereof  should  be  deferred. 

Voted,  that  John  Avery  Esq. 

Samuel  Wentworth  Esq. 

John  Rowe  Esq. 

Nathaniel  Wheelwright  Esq. 

John  Scollay  Esq. 

M-r.  Thomas  Gray 

Mr.  John  Pigeon 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  hear  the  Collectors 
of  the  Town,  and  to  examin  into  their  difficultys  in  Collecting  the 
Taxes,  and  in  what  Instances  it  may  be  expedient  to  enable  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1763.  99 

Collectors  to  Sue  at  Common  Law,  for  the  Taxes  so  committed  to 
them  to  Collect,  and  to  Report  as  soon  as  may  be 

The  Committee  appointed  tbe  6th.  of  September  Instant  to 
consider  of  the  expediency  of  shutting  up  Hog  Alley — Report, 
That  they  had  attended  that  Service,  and  find  that  said  Alley  has 
been  used  as  a  publick  Way  for  a  long  course  of  Years,  and  was 
Recorded  as  such  in  the  Town  Records  in  the  Year  1708' — that 
it  is  not  attended  with  much  greater  Nusances  than  such  narrow 
Passages  generally  are  —  That  the  danger  arising  from  Horses 
and  Cows  passing  through  the  same  may  be  prevented  if  the  Town 
think  proper  to  fix  Turn  Pikes  at  each  end  of  the  Alley,  and  that 
they  did  not  apprehend  such  a  necessity  for  shuttiug  up  the  said 
Alley  as  would  Justefie  their  Reporting  in  favor  of  it  —  whereupon 
[559.]  Voted,  that  this  Report  be  accepted  and  that  the  Select- 
men be  and  hereby  are  desired  and  impower'd  to  provide  Turn 
Pikes  for  Hog  Alley,  and  that  the  same  be  fixed  as  soon  as  may 
be 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq.  and  others  a  Committee  reletive  to  Chim- 
nies  having  made  Report,  it  was  thereupon  Voted,  that  the  same 
be  recommitted,  and  that  Oxenbridge  Thacher  Esq.  and  James 
Otis  Esq.  be  and  herebey  are  added  to  said  Committee,  who  are 
desired  to  Report  at  the  Adjourment  of  this  Meeting. 

Voted  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Tuesday  October  4th. 
3  O'Clock  P :  M  :  And  the  Meeting  was  adjourn'd  accordingly. 

Tuesday  October  4th.  3  O'Clock  P :  M  :  The  Town  Met  according 
to  Adjournment. 

The  Committee  relative  to  Chimnies  having  acquainted  the  Town 
that  by  reason  of  the  absence  of  several  of  their  number,  and  for 
other  Causes,  the}'  were  not  yet  able  to  make  Report,  upon  which 
it  was  Voted,  that  said  Committee  be  requested  to  have  further 
consideration  on  that  Matter,  and  that  they  Report  at  the  next 
General  Town  Meeting. 

The  Committee  relative  to  Circular  Line,  Report,  That  they  find 
the  following  facts  among  the  Records  of  the  Town.  That  on  the 
5th  of  September  1673,  at  a  General  Town  Meeting,  (the  Council 
having  recommended  to  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  the  erecting  a 
Wall  or  Wharff  of  Brick  and  Stone  upon  the  Elatts  before  the 
Town  from  the  Sconce  to  Cap'.  Scarlets  Wharfe  or  to  use  some 
other  means  for  the  security  of  the  Town  from  tbe  approach  of  an 
Enemy  which  recommendation  they  then  laid  before  the  Town,  and 
the  following  Votes,  passed  thereon  —  1st.  Whether  the  Inhabi- 
tants will  be  at  any  charge  for  erecting  such  a  [560.]  Wall  or 

Wharff it  passed  in  the  Negative 2d.  the  Question  was 

put,  whether  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  may  order  and  dispose  of 
the  Flatts  before  the  Town,  from  the  Sconce  to  Cap1.  Scarlets 
Wharff,  for  the  better  security  of  the  Town,  as  they  may  Judge 
best,  any  former  order  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  It  was 
resolved  in  the  affermative  —  In  consequence  of  this  Vote  the 
Committee  find  that  the  Selectmen  on  the  5th  of  September  1673 
did  agree  with  a  number  of  Persons  to  erect  a  Wall  and  Wharff  of 
Stone  and  Wood  upon   the   following   terms,  viz',  —  That  upon 


100  City  Document  No.  88. 

their  compleating  said  Wharff  agreable  to  the  Conditions  containd 
in  their  agreement  with  the  said  Selectmen  which  Agreement  is  in 
the  Records  of  the  Town  in  Book  N.  2.  Page  81  —  they  should 
have  right  to  build  in  back  from  said  Wall  200  feet  towards  the 
Town  in  proportion  to  the  breadth  that  they  build  in  ye.  front,  and 
that  the  remainder  of  the  Flatts  should  be  open  for  the  security  of 
Vessells  ;  but  that  those  who  undertook  any  part  of  this  Wall,  and 
were  Abutters  on  the  within  Cove  should  also  have  right  to  Wharff 
out  before  their  own  Land,  and  in  proportion  with  others  about 
one  hundred  feet  beyond  Governor  Leverets  and  Mr.  Alfords 
Wharfes  and  to  improve  the  same  for  their  best  advantage,  to  them 
their  Heirs  and  Assigns  forever  as  should  be  staked  out  in  a  Cir- 
cular Line  according  to  a  Piatt  or  Map  then  taken  of  the  Cove, 
reserving  also  to  such  others  of  the  Abuttors  or  Borderers  on  the 
said  Flatts  who  refused  to  Join  in  the  said  Wall,  liberty  of  egress 
and  regress,  lying  at  their  Wharffs  Loading  and  unloading  &c. 

The  Committee  further  find  that  at  a  Meeting  of  the  Town 
March  29th.  1 728  a  Committee  was  appointed  to  inspect  into  the 
ruinous  conditions  the  out  Wharffs  granted  to  the  several  Under- 
takers in  the  Year  1673  are  in  ;  and  to  Report  at  the  next  General 
Meeting  what  they  should  think  proper  for  the  Town  to  do  to  Re- 
dress said  grieveance  —  And  accordingly  at  the  next  [561.]  Meet- 
ing the  14th.  May  following  they  Reported  that  three  Years  should 
be  allowed  them  to  Rebuild  the  said  Wharffs  according  to  their 
Agreement  with  the  Town  and  they  who  should  not  build  up  their 
respective  parts  in  said  term  of  three  Years,  should  forfeit  their 
Rights  and  Privileges  granted  them  by  the  Town,  and  that  proper 
Methods  in  such  case  should  be  taken  to  declare  the  same  null  and 
void,  which  Report  was  read  and  accepted,  and  that  at  the  next 
Meeting  the  June  following  the  said  Report  was  committed  to  the 
Representatives  of  the  Town,  and  it  was  Voted  that  they  should 
be  desired  to  lay  it  before  the  General  Court  and  take  proper 
methods  to  have  it  confirm'd,  but  the  Committee  do  not  find  that 
the  Court  did  anything  relative  thereto,  or  that  it  was  ever  laid 
before  the  Court. 

The  Committee  also  find  with  the  Records  of  the  Town  a  Plan 
of  the  Line  of  defence  and  of  the  Cove  within  the  same,  taken  by 
Mr.  Jacob  Sheaffe  by  order  of  the  Selectmen  in  1708  which  Plan  so 
far  as  they  have  been  able  to  observe,  exactly  correspond,  with 
the  descriptions  of  a  Circular  Line  referr'd  to  in  many  of  the 
ancient  Records  of  the  Town,  and  are  of  opinion  that  the  said 
Plan  is  a  good  &  sufficient  one  to  settle  the  several  boundaries  by, 
but  at  the  same  time  recommend  it  to  the  Town  that  this  Plan  be 
immediately  run  out  by  some  skillful  Person. 

It  further  appears  by  said  Plan  that  there  arc  several  encroach- 
ments upon  said  Line  and  that  if  something  be  not  immediately 
done  further  encroachments  will  soon  be  made,  contrary  as  the 
Committee  apprehend  to  the  Interest  of  the  Town  in  general,  as 
well  as  very  prejudicial  to  the  property  of  many  of  the  Inhabitants, 
for  it  is  quite  apparent  should  some  of  the  Abutters  go  on  to 
Wharfe  out  as  they  have  begun  they  will  soon  intersect  one 
another,  and  needlessly  close  up  a  great  part  of  the  Cove,  when 


Boston  Town  Records,  1763.  101 

not  any  of  the  Abutters  have  right  to  exceed  the  Circular  Line, 

and  by  far  the  greater  part  cannot  Wharfe  out  even  to  that 

without  special  leave  to  the  Town.  The  Committee  are  also  of 
opinion  that  it  would  be  for  the  Interest  of  the  Town  to  appoint 
[562.]  A  Committee  to  meet  the  several  Proprietors  of  Wharfes 
abutting  on  or  near  the  Circular  Line  and  that  such  Committee  be 
directed  and  impower'd  to  renew  said  Line  with  said  Proprietors 
and  explain  and  reduce  to  the  greatest  certainty  the  manner  of 
extending  the  Wharfs  of  such  as  have  right  to  build  out,  to  the 
Circular  Line,  as  also  to  accommodate  all  differences  between  the 
Town  and  sucli  as  have  encroached  on  the  Towns  Lands,  within  or 
without  the  Circular  Line  and  to  make  Report  to  the  Town  at  their 
next  Meeting  in  order  for  their  acceptance  and  that  the  Selectmen 
in  the  mean  time  be  directed  and  impowered  to  bring  forward  and 
prosecute  such  Action  or  Actions  for  removing  or  preventing  en- 
croachments on  the  Towns  Lands  within  or  without  the  Circular 
Line,  as  by  Council  learned  in  the  Law  be  advised —  which  is  sub- 
mitted in  the  Name  and  by  order  of  the  Committee 

Royal  Tyler 

Whereupon  it  was  Voted  that  the  Report  be  accepted ;  it  was 
further  Voted  that  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Samuel  Graut  Esq. 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
Oxenbridge  Thacher  Esq. 
Mr.  Henderson  Inches 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  meet  the  several 
Proprietors  of  Wharfes  abutting  on  or  near  the  Circular  Line  wha 
are  hereby  directed  and  impowerd  to  renew  said  Line  with  said 
Proprietors  and  explain  and  reduce  to  the  greatest  certainty  the 
manner  of  extending  the  Wharfe  of  such  as  have  right  to  build 
out  to  the  Circular  Line  ;  as  also  to  accommodate  all  difference  be- 
tween the  Town  and  such  as  have  encroached  on  the  Town  Lands, 
within  or  without  the  Circular  Line,  and  to  make  Report  at  next 
General  Town  Meeting 

The  Committee  Appointed  the  10th  Day  of  May  last  [563.] 
To  consider  of  the  Petition  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Long  Wharfe 
Report,  That  having  considered  the  Petition,  heard  the  Pe- 
titioners and  viewd  the  Premisses,  it  was  their  Opinion  that  the 
Prayer  of  the  Petition  be  granted,  and  that  the  Petitioners  be  per- 
mitted to  extend  the  Pier  of  the  Wharf  as  pray'd  for,  and  that  the 
Town  direct  the  Selectmen  to  execute  a  Deed  of  Grant  without 
Warranty  of  the  Flatts  within  the  said  extent ;  after  considerable 
debate  the  Question  was  put  —  Viz'.  Whether  the  said  Report  shall 
be  accepted  —  Passed  in  the  Aff ermative. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  21st.  of  September  last  to  hear 
the  Collectors  of  the  Town  and  to  examine  into  their  difficultys 
&c.  and  in  what  instances  it  may  be  expedient  to  enable  the  Col- 
lectors to  Sue  at  Common  Law  for  the  Taxes  &c Report 

l8t.  When  any  Person  after  being  duly  rated  in  this  Town  shall 
conceal  his  Person  and  Estate  ;  that  the  Collectors  or  Constables 
shall  have  his  remedy  to  recover  by  Suit  against  the  Trustees  of 
such  Offender,  as  Creditors  have  by  Law  to  recover  their  Debts  — 


102  City  Document  No.  88. 

2nd.  When  any  Person  rated  as  aforesaid  shall  die  before  pay- 
ment of  his  Taxes  ;  or  when  the  Collector  or  Constable  shall  die 
before  perfecting  his  Collection,  the  Executors  and  Administrators 
respectively  may  Sue  or  be  Sued 

3d.  When  any  Person  duly  rated  in  this  Town,  shall  remove 
out  of  it  and  become  an  Inhabitant  of  another  without  paying  his 
Tax,  the  Collector  shall  have  his  Action  at  Law 

4th.  When  any  Single  Woman  is  rated,  and  before  payment  of 
said  Taxes  intermarrys,  that  the  Collector  or  Constable  may  bring 
Action  against  the  Husband. 

After  some  debate  had  upon  the  above  Report,  it  was  Voted 
that  the  same  be  considered  of  Paragraph  by  Paragraph,  and  the 
first  Paragraph  being  again  read,  Voted  that  the  same  be  accepted 
—  The  2d.  Paragraph  being  again  read,  Voted,  that  the  same  be 
accepted  —  The  3d.  Paragraph  being  again  read,  Voted,  that  the 
same  be  accepted,  The  4th.  Paragraph  being  again  read,  Voted, 
that  the  same  be  accepted  —  It  was  further  Voted,  that  when  the 
time  of  payment  to  the  respective  Treasurers  is  [564.]  Elapsed, 
and  the  Collectors  and  Constables  have  paid  the  Sums  given  them 
to  Collect,  that  they  shall  have  remedie  by  Suit  against  Delin- 
quents for  the  same  Year  for  which  they  have  so  paid  in,  to  be  in 
force  for  two  Years  and  no  longer. 

Voted,  that  the  Representatives  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are 
desired  and  Instructed  to  use  their  best  influence  at  the  General 
Court,  that  a  Law  may  be  Enacted  which  shall  include  the  Spirit 
and  Substence  of  the  above  Votes,  relative  to  Collecting  of  Taxes 

&c. 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for  dispatching 
the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  Warned  in  Publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  20th.  of  Feb- 
ruary 17G4. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Dr.  Sewall. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting read 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  Moderator  by  a  Hand 
Vote,  when  the  Honble.  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq.  was  Unanimously 
chosen 

[565.]  The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  respecting 
the  Small  Pox  was  read  ;  —  As  also  the  Petition  of  others  respect- 
ing Inoculating  Hospitals  was  also  read  —  After  considerable 
debate  on  the  subject  matter  of  these  Petitions 

Voted,  Unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  for  their 
great  care  and  pains  to  prevent  the  spread  of  the  Small  Pox  in 
this  Town  ;  and  that  they  be  desired  to  continue  their  good  Offices 
for  that  end. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1764.  103 

Voted ,  That  the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen  together  with  James 
Otis,  John  Ruddock,  Samuel  Wells,  Harrison  Gray,  Foster  Hutch- 
inson Esq".  Mr.  Thomas  Gray,  Benjamin  Kent  &  John  Tudor  Esqrs. 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  take  into  their  serious 
Consideration  what  Measures  are  most  expedient  for  the  Town  to 
take  in  their  present  distress'd  Circumstances,  by  reason  of  the 
Small  Pox,  more  especially  the  Proposals  made  relative  to  Inocu- 
lating Hospitals,  and  to  Report  at  the  Adjournment  of  this 
Meeting. 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  and  hereby  is  Adjourned  to  Fryday 
next  at  10  O'Clock  in  the  Forenoon. 

February  21th.  10  O'Clock  A.  M:  The  Town  Met  according  to 

Adjournment 

The  Committee  Appointed  the  20^.  of  this  Instant  February  to 
consider  what  are  the  most  expedient  Methods  for  the  Town  to 
take  in  their  present  distressed  Circumstances  by  reason  of  the 
Small  Pox,  and  of  the  Proposals  made  relative  to  Inoculating 
Hospitals  —  Report,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Selectmen 
si  ill  to  continue  their  endeavors  to  prevent  the  Spread  of  the  Dis- 
temper, and  that  for  the  accommodation  of  such  of  the  Inhabitants, 
as  are  inclined  to  take  the  Distemper  [566o]  By  Inoculation  it 
will  be  expedient  for  the  Town  to  countenance  the  Establishment 
of  Inoculating  Hospitals,  and  they  find  upon  enquiry  that  the 
Houses  at  Point  Shirley  are  very  convenient  for  that  purpose; 
that  a  number  of  Physicians  have  hired  the  Houses  at  said  Place 
with  a  view  of  improving  them  as  Inoculating  Hospitals,  and  are 
ready  to  admit  any  of  the  Physicians  of  the  Town  to  Inoculate 
their  Patients  there,  they  payii  g  a  reasonable  consideration  for  the 
Houses  and  Furniture,  and  that  a  number  of  Physicians  are  about 
engaging  Houses  at  some  of  the  Islands  near  the  Town  for  the 
same  purpose  —  They  further  Report  that  they  have  also  con- 
sidered the  Petition  fur  establishing  an  Inoculating  Hospital  in  this 
Town,  and  are  of  opinion  it  will  not  be  convenient  at  present  to 
have  such  an  Hospital  within  the  Peninsula 

The  above  Report  having  been  read,  and  debate  had  thereon, 

Voted,  that  the  same  be  accepted 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  acquaint  Mr.  Nathan  Spear  now  sick 
with  the  Small  Pox,  that  it  is  the  desire  of  the  Town  now  As- 
sembled in  Town  Meeting,  that  he  would  consent  to  his  being 
immediately  removed  to  the  Hospital  at  West  Boston —  provided 

it  can  be  done  with  safety  to  his  Life 

Upon  a  Motion  made  &  seconded,  Voted,  that 

Thomas  Hubbard 

Samuel  Wells 

John  Ruddock 

Robert  Auchmuty 

Benjamin  Kent 

Foster  Hutchinson  EsqM. 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 

Mr.  Henry  Newman 

Richard  Dana  Esq. 


104  City  Document  No.  88. 

[567.]  Be  and  hereby  are  Appointed. a  Committee  to  examin  the 
several  Laws  of  this  Province  relative  to  Infectious  Distempers, 
and  Report  to  the  Town  at  their  next  Meeting,  their  Opinion  of 
the  expediency  of  applying  to  the  General  Court  for  any  further 
Act. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted  unanimously  That 
the  Thanks  of  this  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  the  Revd.  Mr. 
George  Whitefield  for  his  Charitable  care  and  pains  in  collecting  a 
considerable  Sum  of  Money  in  Great  Britain  for   the  distressed 

Sufferers  by  the  great  Fire  in  Boston  Anno  Domini  1760 and 

that, 

James  Otis  Esq. 

John  Rowe  Esq. 

"William  Phillips  Esq. 

John  Steel  Esq. 

Royal  Tyler  I^sq. 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  wait  on  Mr.  "White- 
field,  and  inform  him  of  this  Vote ;  and  that  he  be  presented  with 

a  Copy  thereof 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given 
to  the  Honble.  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meet- 
ing for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 
Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[568.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and 
warned  in  publick  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at 
Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  12th.  Day  of  March 
Anno  Dom.  1764. 
Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Mr.  Andrew  Elliot 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting read. 

Sundry  Laws  enjoined  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting  were  accord- 
ingly read. 

James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  and 
took  the  Oath  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving  Bills  of  Credit 
of  the  Governments  of  Connecticut  New  Hampshire  and  Rhode 
Island,  as  required  by  an  Act  of  this  Province. 
,  William  Cooper  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  Year  ensuing 
and  having  taken  the  Oath  relating  to  his  receiving  and  paying 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments,  took  the  Oath  of  Office 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duty  which  Oaths  were  adminis- 

tred  to  him  by  the  Honble.  Samuel  Wells  Esq. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  seven  Selectmen,  and  the 
Votes  being  brought  in  and  sorted  it  appeard  that 
Joshua  Henshaw 
Joseph  Jackson 
John  Scollay 
Benjamin  Austin 
Samuel  Sewall 


Boston  Town  Kecords,  1764.  105 

Nathaniel  Thwing 

John  End  dock  Esq". 

were  chose  Selectmen  for  the  Year  ensuing 

[569.]  Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  one  of  the  late  Selectmen  hav- 
ing before  the  above  choice  informed  the  Town,  that  he  was  much 
obliged  to  them  for  the  Honor  done  him  in  choosing  him  a  Select- 
man for  a  number  of  Years  past ;  that  he  found  his  Business  would 
not  permit  him  to  serve  in  that  Office  any  longer,  and  therefore  de- 
sired his  Name  might  not  be  put  in  the  new  List Samuel  Hews 

and  Ezekiel  Lewis  Esq.  having  made  a  like  excuse  and  expressed  the 

same  desire It  was  Unanimously  Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of 

the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to  the  above  named  Gentlemen, 

for  their  faithful  services  as  Selectmen  some  time  past 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appearcl,  that 

John  Barratt  Esq. 

Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Dolbear 

Isaac  Smith  Esq. 

Mr.  Jonathan  Mason 

Mr.  Henry  Bromfield 

Meletiah  Bourn  Esq. 

Joseph  Gardner  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Whitwell 

Cap4.  Benjamin  Hammatt 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Storer 
were  chose  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing  and  took 

the  Oaths  required  by  Law 

The  Votes  were  brought  in  for  a  Town  Treasurer,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeard  that  Mr.  David  Jeffries  was  unanimously 
chosen,  and  having  taken  the  Oath  relating  to  his  paying  and  re- 
ceiving Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments  took  the  Oath 
of  Office  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duty,  which  Oaths  were 
administred   to   him    [570]    By   the   Honorable    Samuel  Wells 

Esq. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Wardens,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeard  that 

Mr.  William  Whitwell 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Holmes 

Majr.  Newman  Grenough 

Onesip8.  Tileston  Esq. 

Cap4.  Samuel  Partridge 

William  Holmes  Esq. 

Mr.  Johnson  Jackson 

John  Gore  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Gray 

Benjamin  Andrews  Esq. 

Mr.  Thomas  Fletcher 

Cap4.  William  Fisher 
were  chose  Wardens  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Royal  Tyler  Esq.  in  the  name  of  the  Overseers  represented  to 


106  City  Document  No.  88. 

the  Town,  that  being  acquainted  by  the  Selectmen  that  a  number 
of  Physicians  were  willing  to  Inoculate  such  of  the  Poor  Gratis, 
as  were  desirous  of  receiving  the  Small  Pox  in  that  way ;  they 
had  accordingly  waited  upon  those  Gentlemen,  who  readily  en- 
gaged to  carry  through  that  Distemper  their  proportion  of  the 
Poor  of  the  Town  either  in  the  natural  way  or  by  Inoculation,  as 
also  to  find  Medicines  and  give  proper  attendance  Gratis  —  they 
mentioned  among  other  Things,  that  they  were  apprehensive  that 
the  great  number  of  Persons  which  will  be  immediately  laid  down 
may  so  take  up  the  attention  of  those  Physicians  who  have  thus 
engaged,  as  to  prevent  them  in  some  instances  from  attending  the 
sick  Poor  who  may  thereby  suffer ;  and  that  therefore  they  had 
secured  as  Physicians  to  be  at  the  call  of  the  Overseers  in  all  such 
cases  —  whereupon  it  was  Voted  [5  7 1.]  That  the  Conduct  of  the 

Overseers  in  those  particulars  are  satisfactory  to  the  Town 

Voted  that  the  Town  Clerk  be  directed  to  Advertize  in  the  sev- 
eral News  Papers,  that  it  is  expected  and  required  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants that  they  strictly  conform  to  the  Law  relative  to  sweeping  of 
Chimnies  &c.  as  Fires  at  this  Time  of  sickness  must  be  peculiarly 

distressing 

Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  Overseers  of  the  Poor  be  desired  to 
take  such  care  of  the  Chimnies  of  the  Houses  occupied  by  those 
Persons  who  are  unable  to  pay  the  Charge  of  sweeping  &e.  as  they 
may  apprehend  most  for  the  safety  of  the  Town 

Upon   consideration   of    that  Clause  in    the   "Warrant    (Viz1.) 
"  Whether   any  Measures   shall  be .  taken  to  prevent   Strangers 
coming  into  the  Town  or  any  of  the  Inhabitants  to  be  Inoculated 
after  a  certain  Time  allowed  for  that  purpose 
Voted,  that  the  Honble.  Harrison  Gray  Esq. 
HonbIe.  Samuel  "Wells  Esq. 
Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
John  Barratt  Esq. 
Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 
John  Ruddock  Esq. 
Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  of  this  Mat- 
ter, and  Report  as  soon  as  may  be 

Voted,  that  any  Person  chosen  into  the  Office  of  a  Constable  for 
the  Year  ensuing  may  be  excused  from  serving,  on  his  paying  the 
Sum  of  Four  Pounds. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Constables ;  the 

Persons  [572.]  Chose  into  that  Office  are 

Mess".  Augustus  Hale        --.-_-     Sworn 
Nathaniel  Thayer  d°. 

James  Thomas        ------        d°. 

Francis  Salmon       -         -         -        -        d°. 

Edward  Baker  d°. 

John  "Welds    -----        d°. 

Thomas  Bradford  d°. 

John  Kinney  -----        d°. 

Thomas  Moore  d°. 

Isaac  Ridgway  dtf. 


Boston  Town  Records,   1764.  107 

Samuel  Procter        -         -         -         -        d°. 
Samuel  McClure  d°. 

Elisba  Byles   -         -  excused  having  served. 
The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Sixteen  Fire  Wards,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 

Joseph  Jackson' Esq. 
John  Scollay  Esq. 
Eoyal  Tyler  Esq. 
Newman  Grenough  Esq. 
Cap'.  Solomon  Davis 
Mr.  William  Cooper 
Mr.  Samuel  Austin 
Mr.  Joseph  Jackson 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Mr.  John  Mico  Wendell 
Mr.  Henderson  Inches 
Thomas  Marshall  Esq. 
William  Holmes  Esq. 
Mr.  Joseph  Tyler 
Mr.  Jonathan  Williams 
[573.]  Mr.  Timothy  Fitch 

were  chose  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Clerks   of   the 
Market,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd,  that 
Mess".  Benjamin  Henderson 
Benjamin  Edes 
Samuel  Torrey 
John  Scott 
John  Cunningham 
Edward  Walker 
Ezra  Collins 
Thomas  Browne 
Thomas  Leverett 
Jeremiah  Belknap 
Joseph  Tyler 
Edward  Blan chard 

were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourn'd  to  3  O'Clock  P.  M. 

3  O'Clock  P :  M  :  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

The  Town  took  into  consideration  a  proposal  made  by  one  of 
their  Committees  the  last  Year,  for  chosing  Six  Collectors  of 
Taxes,  and  the  Question  being  put  (Viz4.)  Whether  there  shall  be 

six  Collectors  chose Passed  in  the  Negative 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Nine  Pence  on  the  Pound  be  and  hereby 
is  allowed  to  such  Persons  as  shall  be  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes 
for  the  Year  ensuing,  for  all  such  Sums  as  they  shall  Collect, 
provided  they  pay  into  the  Town  Treasury  one  half  part  of 
the  whole  Sum  they  are  obliged  to  [574.]  Pay  him,  within  tour 
Mounths  from  the  Time  they  receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the 
Assessors,  and  the  other  half  in  three  Months  after ;  and  also  pay 
into  the  Province  and  County  Treasuries  one  half  part  of  the  whole 


108  City  Document  No.  88. 

Sum  the}r  shall  be  obliged  them  respectively  in  seven  Months  from 
the  time  they  shall  receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the  Assessors  as 
aforesaid,  and  the  other  half  part  in  Five  Months  after ;  and  in 
case  either  of  said  Collectors  shall  fail  paying  in  the  manner 
aforesaid,  the  Collector  so  failing  shall  not  be  entitled  to  the 
aforesaid  allowance  of  Nine  Pence  on  the  Pound,  but  wholly 
forfeit  the  same ;  provided  also  that  each  of  said  Collectors  give 
Bond  with  sufficient  Sureties  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen, 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duty  in  said  Office,  and  com- 
plying with  the  Vote 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  shall  have  a  discretionary  power  as  to 
the  payment  of  the  Collectors  Premium,  for  the  Year  ensuing,  any 

former  Vote  notwithstanding 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  four  Collectors  of 
Taxes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that 

Jonathan  Payson  Esq. 

Mr.  John  Grant 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 

Cap1.  Gyles  Harris 

were  chose  into  that  Office 

The  Committee  relative  to  Chimnies  acquainting  the  Town  that 
they  were  not  yet  ready  to  make  Report  —  Voted  that  said  Com- 
mittee be  required  to  have  further  consideration  on  the  Matter  and 

Report  at  the  General  Town  Meeting  to  be  held  in  May  next 

The  Inhabitants  brought   in   their   Votes  for  Seven  Assessors 
[575.]  And  upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that, 
Mess".  William  Fairfield 

John  Kneeland 

Benjamin  Church 

Jonathan  Brown 

Samuel  Downe 

Belcher  Noyes  Esq. 

William  Torrey 

were  chose  into  that  Office  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mr.  John  Gray  was  chosen  Surveyor  of  Hemp. 
Messrs.  William  Nichols 

Clement  Collins 

Jacob  Thayer 

Henry  Allyne 
'  John  Grenough 

Andrew  Symms 

Isaac  Vergoose 

John  Sergeant 

William  Payne 

John  Langley 

Richard  WTalker 

John  Skillins 
were  chose  Surveyers  of  Boards  &  Shingles  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Onesip8.  Tileston  Esq. 

Mr.  Obediah  Lowe 

Hopestill  Capen 

William  Crafts 


Boston  Town  Eecoeds,  1764.  109 

Samuel  Dyer 

Benjamin  Andrews  Esq. 

[576.]  Were  chose  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mess™.  Sutton  Byles 

Cornelius  Thayer 

Isaac  Haws 

William  Cromby 

were  chose  Sealers  of  Leather  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mess".  Nathaniel  Gardner 

Samuel  Whitwell 

were  chose  Informers  of  Deer  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mess™.  Peter  Cotta 

Manasseh  Masters 

Joseph  Dyer 

John  Harskins 

David  Spear 

Nathan  Spear 

Jonathan  Jenkins 

Samuel  Tieat 

Robert  Brick  Junr. 

Job  Wheelwright 

Joshua  Pico 

Benjamin  Salt 

Paul  Baxter 

John  Owen 

Thomas  Knox 

Samuel  White 

Edward  Cowell 

Edward  Potter 

Peter  Ellis 

Robert  Treat 
[577  •]  Were  chose  Cullers  of  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mess".  David  Simens. 
John  Bacon 
were  chose  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mr.  Edward  Curtis 

was  chosen  Haywaid  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Committee  Appointed  to  consider  ''Whether  the  Town  will 
take  any  Measures  to  prevent  Strangers  coming  into  the  Town  or 
any  of  the   Inhabitants   to  be   Inoculated   after   a   certain   Time 

allowed  for  that  purpose  "  Report That  no  Person  not  being 

an  Inhabitant  of  this  Town  shall  have  liberty  to  come  into  this 
Town  in  order  to  be  Inoculated  untill  the  first  of  April,  nor  shall 
be  Inoculated  in  said  Town  after  the  10th.  Day  of  April  next.  And 
those  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  that  have  removed  into  the 
Country,  shall  not  have  liberty  to  be  Inoculated  in  the  Town  after 
the  first  Day  of   May  next,  unless  at  that  Time  there  shall  be 

upwards   of   twenty  Familys  visited  with   that   Distemper " 

After  debate   had   theron,  the   Question  was   put,  Whether  said 

Report  be  accepted Passed  in  the  Affermative 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  (Viz1.)  "Whether  the  Town  will 
"  accept  of  the  Grant  of  Three  Thousand  Pounds  made  to  them 


110  City  Document  No.  88. 

"by  the  General  Court  at  their  last  Session,  which  together  with 
"  what  has  been  already  advanced  was  Voted  in  full  consideration 
"for  what  they  have  over  paid  in  the  Publick  Taxes  for  Years 
past "  was  read  and  after  many  objections  and  difficultys  mentioned, 

and  a  large  debate 

Voted,  That  considering  the  distressing  Circumstances  of  the 
Inhabitants  by  means  of  the  Small  Pox,  and  the  absolute  Neces- 
sity of  ready  Money  for  the  Poor  and  Needy,  the  Town  do  accept 
the  Grant  aforesaid  and  hereby  direct  the  Town  Treasurer  to  apply 
to  His  Excellency  [578.]  The  Governor  and  the  Honble.  the 
Council  for  a  Warrant  on  the  Province  Treasurer  for  the  Three 
Thousand  Pounds  granted 

Mess".  Robert  Edwards 
Ezra  Collins 
John  Martin 
William  Daws 
Ebenezer  Lowell 
Jeremiah  Webb 
William  Scott 
Gershom  Tinney 
John  Welch 
Ephraim  Mayes 
Benjamin  Burt 
Edward  Winter 
were  chose  Scavingers  for  the  Year  ensuing         ■ 
Voted,  that  Mr.  Thomas  Gray 

William  Story  Esq. 
Mr.  Ezekiel  Price 
Mr.  Timothy  Newell 
Mr.  John  Muff  ait 
be  and  they  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the  Ac- 
counts of   Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries,  and  also  the  Accounts  of  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor ;  and  the  said  Committee  are  enjoin'd  to  in- 
spect every  particular  Account  of  the  Monys  expended  for  the  use 
of  the  Almshouse  ;  they  are  also  impowerd  when  they  shall  Audit 
said  Accounts  to  allow  such  of  the   Overseers  as  shall  advance 
Moneys  for  the  relief  of  the  Poor,  Interest  on  all  such  Sums,  from 
the  Time  so  advanced,  till  they  shall  have  Audited  said  Accompts 
Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 
John  Scollay  Esq. 
William  Phillips  Esq. 
[579.]     were  chose  purchasers  of  Grain  for  the  Year  ensuing 
And  they  are  desired  and  impowered  to  give  all  needful  di- 
rections to  the  Keeper  Qf  the  Granary,  respecting  the  Quantitys  of 
Grain  to  be  sold,  and  affixing  the  price  thereof  from  Time  to  Time 
as  occasion  shall  require  — — 

Mess".  Martin  Gay 
David  Cutler 
were  chose  Assay  Masters  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Abijah  Adams 
was  chosen  Clerk  of  Faneuil  Hall  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant.  (Viz1.)   "  To 


Boston  Town  Records,  1764.        Ill 

consider  whether  they  will  choose  a  Committee  to  examine  the  A©- 
compts  of  the  Managers  of  Faneuil  Hall  Lotteries," 

Voted,  that        Mr.  William  Greanleaffe 
William  Phillips  Esq. 
Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  for  that  purpose 

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant.  (Viz*.) 
"  Whether  the  Town  will  take  on  their  risque  such  Tickets  in 
Faneuil  Hall  Lotterys  as  may  remain  unsold  on  the  Days  that  may 

be  assign'd  by  the  Managers  for  drawing  said  Lotteries  " The 

Question  was  put  accordingly Passed  in  the  Affermative 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  the  next  Morning.  9 
O'Clock 

Tuesday  Morning.     9  O'clock  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 
William  Story  Esq. 
John  Ruddock  Esq. 

[580.]  were  by  a  Vote  of  the  Town  added  to  the  Committee 
Appointed  by  the  Town,  to  examine  the  Accompts  of  the  Managers 
of  Faneuil  Hall  Lotteries 

The  Petition  of  John  Pigeon  and  others  relative  to  Paveing  part 
of  Fish  Street,  being  read Voted  that  the  further  considera- 
tion thereof  be  referred  to  the  General  Town  Meeting  to  be  held 
in  May  next 

The   Selectmen  were    chose  Surveyors  of  High  Ways  for  the 

Year  ensuing 

Nathaniel  Thwing  Esq. 
John  Tuder  Esq. 
were  chose  Surveyers  of  Wheat  for  the  Year  ensuing  — 

Voted,  that  the  Assessors  be  and  are  hereby  impowered  and 
directed  to  set  for  the  abatement  of  such  Taxes  as  they  shall 
Judge  reasonable  on  every  Thursday,  till  the  first  Thursday  in 
April  inclusive,  and  no  longer,  saving  that  they  be  allowed  to  set 
the  two  last  Weeks  in  November  for  the  Abatement  of  the  Taxes 
of  such  Persons  as  had  not  an  opportunity  of  applying  in  the 
above  limited  Time,  by  reason  of  their  being  out  of  the  Province, 
at  which  Time  they  are  also  allowed  and  impowerd  to  abate  the 
Taxes  of  such  Persons,  as  may  have  died  Insolvent  or  become 
Bankrupts  between  the  said  last  Thursday  in  April  and  the  last 
Day  of  November. 

Voted,  that  the  consideration  of  the  School  Masters  Salary s,  and 
all  other  Salarys  and  Grants  be  referred  to  next  May  Meeting 

[581.]  Voted,  that  such  of  the  Inhabitants  as  shall  Advance 
Moneys  to  the  Town  for  the  use  of  the  Almshouse  on  or  before 
the  loth.  of  April  next,  be  and  hereby  arc  allowed  after  the  rate  of 
6  p  c'.  upon  such  Sums  as  they  shall  so  advance,  said  Monysto 
be  paid  by  the  Collectors  to  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  to  be  by 
them  laid  out  in  Provisions,  and  other  Necessai*\s  for  the  use  afore- 
said ;  and  the  Collectors  are  hereby  Ordered  and  impowered  to  dis- 
count those  Sums  together  with  the  allowance  thereon  out  of  the 
said  Gentlemens  respective  Taxes  for  the  Year  1764 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  Act  upon  the  List  of  Jurors 


-    £29  ,, 

5 

-       27  „ 

6 

-       29  „ 

11 

-      30  " 

>i  — 

-       31  „ 

4„  — 

-       26  „ 

»  ,t  — 

-       31  „ 

1  „  — 

Treasurer 

Jeffries  A 

112  Citf  Document  No.  88. 

The  Selectmen  Eeported,  on  the  Account  of  Mr.  John  Fenno 
Keeper  of  the  Granary  for  the  Year  past,  which  Accompt  as  en- 
tree! in  his  Books,  and  on  File  in  the  Town  Clerks  Office  was  read, 
whereupon  it  was  Voted  that  the  same  be  accepted,  and  that  Mr. 
Feuno  be  accountable  to  the  Town  for  680  Bushels  Indian  Corn, 
and  60  Bushels  of  Rye  remaining  unsold  amounting  to  £129  ,,  1 
,,  4.  nnd  also  for  the  Sum  of  £250  ,,  4  ,,  574  in  Cash  now  in  his 
hands,  exclusive  of  the  Sum  of  £26  ,,  13  ,,  4  for  his  Salary  and 
Assistance,  as  charged  in  his  Account,  which  is  hereby  allowed 
him. 

The  Committee  Appointed  to  Examin  the  Accounts  of  the  Man- 
agers of  Faneuil  Hall  Lotteries Report  that  they  had  Exam- 
ined the  Accounts  of  the  Managers  fur  Lotteries  N°.  1   &  2  and 

found    the     same    right    cast whereupon  Voted     that    said 

Report  be  accepted,  and  that  the  following  Sums  be  allowed  and 
paid  to  said  Managers  in  full  of  their  Accounts 
To  Thomas  dishing  Esq.  -  . 
Samuel  Hews  Esq. 
John  Scollay  Esq. 
[582.]  Benjamin  Austin  Esq.  - 
Samuel  Sewall  Esq. 
Mr.  Sam.  Phi.  Savage  - 
Ezekiel  Lewis  Esq. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  Audit  Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries  Ac- 
counts of  last  Year,  not  being  able  to  Report.  Voted  that  it  is  the 
desire  of  the  Town  that  they  make  said  Report  next  May 
Meeting. 

The  Petition  of  James  Day,  that  a  balance  due  from  him  to  the 
Town  when  a  Collector  of  Taxes  may  be  Remitted  him  for  reasons 
set  forth  in  that  Petion,  was  considered  whereupon  Voted  that 
the  Prayer  of  the  Petion  be  granted,  and  that  the  balance  due 
from  him  to  the  Town  as  set  forth  in  said  Petition,  be  and  hereby 
is  Remitted  him. 

The  Town  having  taken  into  consideration  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  respecting  Inoculation  which  Report  was  accepted  and 
stands  entred  in  these  Records  six  Pages  back 

Voted,  That  the  said  Report  be  in  part  reconsidered,  and  that 
all  Persons  Inhabitants  and  others  have  free  liberty  to  come  into 
Town  and  be  Inoculated  before  the  20b.  of  April  next ;  and  that 
after  that  Time  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  take  the  same  Meas- 
ures for  cleansing  the  Town  of  ye.  Infection  as  were  practized  in 
1732  and  that  those  Votes  be  published  in  the  Boston  News  Papers, 
that  all  Persons  may  have  notice  of  the  Town  resolutions  and  con- 
form themselves  accordingly. 

The  Committee  Appointed  the  24th.  of  February  last  to  examine 
the  several  Laws  of  this  Province  respecting  Infectious  Distem- 
pers —  Report  —  That  under  the  present  situation  and  Circum- 
stances of  the  Town,  it  does  not  appear  to  them  to  be  expedient 
to  apply  to  [583.]  The  General  Court  for  any  further  Act — ■ 
Which  Report  being  read,  the  Question  was  put  "  Whether  the 
same  shall  be  accepted — Passed  in  the  Affermative 

Upon  a   Motion   made    and  seconded  —  Voted  that  the  Town 


Boston  Town  Records,  1764.  113 

Treasurer  be  and  he  hereby  is  directed  to  retain  in  his  hands  the 
whole  of  the  Money  lately  granted  the  Town  by  the  General  Court, 
excepting  what  may  be  required  on  Account  of  the  Small  Pox, 
untill  the  further  Order  of  the  Town. 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  Things  that  remain  unfinished  at 
this  Meeting  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  General  Town 
Meeting  in  May  next  to  be  then  considered  of  ami  acted  upon 

Voted,  unanimously,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and 
hereby  are  given  to  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meet- 
ing for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof  

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  tin. 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  publick  Towr 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Fanueil  Hall  on  Tuesday  the  15th  Day  of 
May  Anno  Domini  1764. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Mr.  Cooper. 

The  Precept  and  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  -  -  read. 

[584.]  Sundry  Laws  enjoin'd  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting,  were 

accordingly  read 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq.  one  of  the  Selectmen  proposed  in  their 
Name  to  the  Inhabitants  Assembled  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of 
one  or  more  Persons  to  Represent  them  in  the  Great  and  General 
Court  or  Assembly  to  be  held  at  Concord  upon  Wednesday  the 
30th.  Day  of  May  Current,  and  in  order  thereto  to  consider  and  as- 
certain the  number  of  Gentlemen  to  be  Elected ;  accordingly  it 
was  Voted  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of  four  Representatives  ;  and 
then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Vote  will  be  received 
but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and  that  they  propose  the  Poll  shall,  be 
closed  at  12  O'Clock. 

The  Votes  being  brought  in,  the  number  of  Voters  were  found 
to  be  449,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that  the  four  follow- 
ing Gentlemen  were  chose Viz*. 

Royal  Tyler  Esq. 420 

James  Otis  Esq.    ----------    423 

Thomas  Cushman  Esq.   --------    373 

Oxenbridge  Thacher  Esq.    -------     430 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over,  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen;  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  ir 
their  Votes  for  a  Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  in  order  that  tha 
Town  may  proceed  in  transacting  the  other  Affairs  mentioned  ik 
the  Warrant ;  accordingly  the  Inhabitants  withdrew  and  brought 
in  their  Votes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear' d  that  the  HonbIe 

Thomas  Hubbard  Esq.  was  chosen 

To  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  Boston  in  Towr 
Meeting  Assembled  May  15.  1764. 

Pursuant  to  a  Vote  of  the  Town  of  Boston  at  their  Anniml  Meet- 
ing the  10*.  Day  of  May  HG'i  desiring  the  Selectmen  to  visit  thi 
several  publick  Schools  in  the  Town,  anc*  to  invite  such  Gentlemen 
to  [585. J  Accompany  them  therein  at    ney  should  think  proper 


114:  City  Document  No.  88. 

and  to  Report  thereau We  the  Subscribers  accordingly  attend- 
ed that  Service  on  Wednesday  the  29th.  of  June  last,  accompanyed 

by  the  followinging  Gentlemen  Viz4. 

His  Excellency  the  Governor 
The  Honble.  John  Osborn  Esq. 

Thomas  Hubbard  Esq. 

Harrison  Gray  Esq. 

Thomas  Hancock  Esq. 

Thomas  Flucker  Esq. 
The  Representatives  of  the  Town 
The  Overseers  of  the  Poor. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 

Arnold  Wells  Esq. 

Byfleld  Lyde  Esq. 

Nathaniel  Bethune  Esq. 

John  Winthrop  Esq. 

Leonard  Jervis  Esq. 

Benjamin  Hallowell  Esq. 

Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries 

Nicholas  Boylston  Esq. 

Mr.  James  Perkins 

John  Grant  Esq. 

Jeremiah  Green  Esq. 
Mess1*.  Thomas  Gray 

Samuel  Phillips  Savage 

Joseph  Waldo 

Jonathan  Clark 

Ichabod  Jones 

Edward  Foster 

Samuel  Downe 

Benjamin  Parker 
[586.]  Revd.  Samuel  Checkley  Jun* 

Samuel  Cooper 

Andrew  Elliot 

Mather  Byles 

Samuel  Mather 

Ebenezer  Pemberton 

Samuel  Checkley 
Dra:  Jonathan  Mayhew 

Charles  Chansey 

Joseph  Sewall 

And  found  the  South  Grammar  School  had  135    Scholars  —  the 

North  Grammar  School  53  Scholars  —  the  North  Writing  School 

174  Scholars,  the  South  Writing  School  230  Scholars,  the  Writing 

School  in  Queen  Street  238  Scholars,  all  in  very  good  order 

John  Scollat  "]| 

Benjamin  Austin  c  i    +  *  r>    + 

c  c  r  Selectmen  of  Boston. 

Samuel  Sewall         f 

Nathaniel  ThwingJ 

Voted,    that    the    above    Report    be    accepted,    and   that    the 

Gentlem11 — the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  visit  the  publick  Schools 

the  Year  ensuing,  and  that  they  desire  such  Gentlemen  to  accom- 


Boston   Town  Eecords,  1764.  115 

pauy  them  therein  as  they  shall  think  convenient ;  and  that  they 
Report  thereon 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  adjourned  to  3  O'Clock  P.M. 

3  O'Clock  P:  M:  The  Town  Meet  according  to  Adjournment. 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  for  Paving  part  of 
Moon  Court  was  read  and  debated,  whereupon  Voted  that  the 
same  be  dismissed 

[58H .]  The  Petition  of  sundry  Inhabitants  for  Paving  part  of 
Cambridge  Street  was  read,  and  after  Debate  had  thereon 

Voted,  that  the  same  be  dismissed 

The  Petition  of  sundry  Inhabitants  for  paving  part  of  Fish 
Street  which  was  referred  to  this  Meeting,  being  again  read  & 
considered  —  The  Question  was  put  —  Whether  the  Prayer  of 
the  Petition  be  granted  —  Passed  in  the  Negative  —  It  was  then 
Voted  that  the  same  be  dismiss'd. 

The  Petition  of  John  Hill  and  Samuel  Wentworth  Esq.  respect- 
ing the  damage  that  part  of  the  Neck  leased  to  them  has  sustain'd 
in  the  late  Storm  was  read,  and  after  Debate  had  thereon 

Voted,  that  Deacon  Jonathan  Williams 
James  Otis  Esq. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
John  Ruddock  Esq. 
Nathaniel  Bethune  Esq. 
Henry  Lo)  de  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  take  this  Petition  into 
consideration  —  view  the  Premisses  —  take  a  Plan  of  the  same  — 
ascertain  the  quantity  and  quality  of   the  Lands  —  examine  the 
Expences  of  the  Lessees,  and  Report  as  soon  as  may  be  their 
Opinion  relative  thereto 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  and  twenty  Pounds  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  Mr.  John  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of 
the  South  Grammar  School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be 
paid  him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due.  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  Peleg  Wiswall  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North 
Gramar  [588.]  School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  Samuel  Holyoke  for  his  SalarjT  as  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  Queen  Street  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  John  Procter  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  Queen  Street  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds,  be  allowed  and 


116  City  Document  No.  88. 

paid  unto  Mr.  John  Tileston  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North 
Writing  School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration 
of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  Abia  Holbiook  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the 
Writing  School  in  the  Common  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to 
be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at 
the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  feixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  James  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  South  Grammar 
School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as 
it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter. 

[589.]  Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  Ephraim  Langdon  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the 
North  Grammar  School  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration 
of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  John  Vinal  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  Writing  School  in 
the  Common  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quartei  ly 
as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the 
last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Thirty  four  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  John  Tileston  Master  of  the  North  Writing  School  for 
providing  an  Assistant  the  Year  ensuing,  the  same  be  paid  him 
quarterly,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  &  paid 
out  of  the  Town  Treasury  unto  Mr.  David  Jeffries  for  his  services 
as  Treasurer  of  the  Town  the  Year  past,  and  for  all  his  Expences 
in  that  Office. 

Voted,  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  and  hereby  is  directed  and 
impower'd  to  allow  the  several  School-Masters  Interest  on  the 
Sums  clue  to  them  from  the  Date  of  their  Warrants  to  the  Time 
of  payment 

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant  (Viz4.)  "Whether  Instructions  shall 
"  be  given  to  the  Representatives  that  may  be  chose"  was  read  — 
and  after  Debate  had  thereon,  Voted,  that 
Richard  Dana  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
John  Ruddock  Esq. 

[590.]                   Nathaniel  Bethune  Esq. 
Joseph  Green  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  draw  up  said  Instruc- 
tions, and  that  they  Report  a  Draft  of  the  same  at  the  Adjourn- 
ment of  this  Meeting 

Royal  Tyler  Esq.  in  the  Name  of  the  Overseers  acquainted 
the  Town  that  1025  of  the  poor  Inhabitants  had  passed  through 
the  Small  Pox  by  Inoculation  under  their  inspection  and  care 
a    number    of     whom    had    been     Inoculated,    supplied     with 


Boston  Town  Records,  1764.  117 

Medicines  and  attended  Gratis  by  the  Physicians  as  follows  — 

Viz'. 

Dr.  Kast 150 

Dr.  Sprague 71 

Drs.  Church  &  Lord 50 

Dr.  Roberts 43 

Dr.  Jackson  of  P.  N.  Hampshire      -  -    33 

Dr.  Sylvester  Gardner 31 

Dra.  Gardner  &  Barnett 27 

Dr.  Clark 27 

Dr.  John  Perkins 24 

Dr.  Whitworth 23 

Dr.  Yougust 17 

Dr.  Bulfinch 16 

Dr.  Pecker '      -     16 

Dr.  Doubt 15 

Dr.  Warren 14 

Dr.  Loyd 7 

Dr.  Grozier      -------4 

Dr.  William  Perkins 4 

Dr.  Pynchon    -------4 

In  all  -  -  -  526 
Whereupon  it  was  Voted  unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the 
[591,]  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  those  Gentlemen  Physicians, 
who  in  this  Season  of  difficulty  and  distress  have  generously  In- 
oculated and  carried  through  the  Small  Pox  Gratis  so  considerable 
a  number  of  the  poor  Inhabitants 

The  Town  entred  upon  the  consideration  of  that  part  of  the 
Warrant  which  relates  to  the  clearing  of  the  Town  of  the  Small 
Pox  and  being  informed  that  many  Persons  now  Inoculated  and 
sick  of  the  said  Distemper  do  come  from  other  Towns  to  this  for 
that  purpose 

Voted,  that  the  Town  esteem  it  a  great  grievance  that  such  Per- 
sons obtrude  themselves  to  perpetuate  a  Distemper  among  us, 
which  the  Town  are  taking  every  Measure  to  clear  themselves  from 
and  therefore 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  take  every  legal  Measure  to  remove 
any  Persons  from  the  Town  who  shall  after  this  date  obtrude 
themselves  in  the  like  manner  upon  the  Town,  and  that  the  Names 
of  such  Persons  who  shall  hereafter  obtrude  themselves  as  afore- 
said, the  Towns  they  come  from,  and  the  Places  in  this  Town 
where  they  are  harboured,  shall  be  published  in  the  Papers,  and  all 
the  Inhabitants  are  desired  upon  any  such  Persons  coming  into  the 
Town,  to  give  immediate  notice  thereof  to  the  Selectmen 

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant  (Viz1.)  "  Whether  Application  shall 
be  made  to  the  General  Court  for  relief  under  the  present  dis- 
tress'd  Circumstances  of  the  Town  by  means  of  the  Small  Pox  " 
was  read  and  debated,  whereupon  Voted,  that  the  Committee  to 
draw  up  Instructions,  have  an  Instruction  to  our  Representatives, 
that  they  as  soon  as  may  be  apply  to  the  General  Court,  for  such 
relief  as  they  in  their  Wisdom  may  Judge  meet 


118  City  Document  No.  88. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  the  Question  was  put. 
(Viz4.)  "Whether  the  Representatives  shall  be  Instructed  to  make 
Application  to  the  General  Court  the  approaching  Session  for  an 
Act  to  be  provided  [593.]  Which  shall  impower  the  Selectmen 
to  remove  any  Persons  who  shall  presume  to  come  from  other 
Towns  into  this  either  infected  with  the  Small  Pox,  or  with  design 
to  receive  the  Infection — Passed  in  the  Affermative  —  It  was 
then  Voted  that  the  Committee  Appointed  to  draw  up  Instructions 
to  our  Representatives,  be  desired  to  instruct  them  on  this  head 
accordingly. 

The  Committee  Appointed  the  14th.  of  March  1763  to  examine 
the  Accounts  of  David  Jeffries  Town  Treasurer  have  attended  that 
service,  and  find  the  same  right  cast  and  well  vouched,  in  which 
he  charges  himself  with  Sundry  Fines  Rents  and  other  Incomes  of 
the  Town  as  also  with  the  Tax  of  £4600 — all  which  amount  to 
£6960  ,,  9  ,,  9£ 

And  the  said  Treasurer  discharges  himself  by  sundry  abatements 
made  the  Collectors  amounting  to  £971  ,,  11  ,,  6.  by  Drafts  made 
by  the  Selectmen  amounting  to  £3161  ,,  14  ,,  5  J  of  which  he  has 
paid  £2296  ,,  12  ,,  4f ,  and  by  Drafts  made  by  the  Overseers  of 
the  Poor  which  contain  the  Charges  of  the  Alms  house  amounting 
to  £2665  ,,  0  ,,  0£  of  which  he  has  paid  £1537  ,,  3  ,,  2}  the  whole 
amounting  to  £6932  ,-,  17'.,,  9|-  including  the  Balance  of  Old 
Account  —  The  said  Committee  have  inspected  said  Drafts  in  a 
very  particular  manner,  and  have  examined  the  Vouchers  produced 
by  the  Overseers  for  the  amount  of  their  Drafts  and  every  other 
branch  of  publick  charge  all  amounting  as  above  to  the  Sum  of 
£0932  ,,  17  ,,  9f  as  by  Account  of  Town  Treasury  in  the  Town 
Treasurers  Books  Balance  whereof  being  £27  ,,  11  ,,  11^  is  car- 
ried to  the  Cr.  of  new  Account. 

Which  Report  and  Account  being  read  ;  Voted  that  the  same  be 
and  hereby  is  accepted 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Seven  thousand  Pounds  be  raised  by  a 
Tax  upon  Polls  and  Estates  within  this  Town  for  relief  of  the 
Poor  and  defraying  other  necessary  Charges  arising  within  the 
Town  the  ensuing  Year 

[593.]  The  Town  took  into  consideration  that  Clause  in  the 
Warrant  (Viz1.)  "  Whether  a  further  Time  shall  be  allowed  the 
Assessors  to  set  for  the  abatement  of  such  Persons  Taxes,  as 
by  the  Small  Pox  have  been  prevented  from  applying  in  season" 
whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Assessors  be  and  are  hereby  directed  and  im- 
power'd  ;  that  fourteen  Days  after  the  Selectmen  have  declared 
that  the  Town  is  free  from  the  present  Infection ;  they  shall  set 
fourteen  Days  longer  for  the  Abatement  of  such  Person's  Taxes 
as  ht'd  removed  out  of  Town  or  were  sick  of  the  Small  Pox,  at 
the  Time  set  for  the  Assessors  to  make  Abatements,  at  the  last 
March  Meeting  — 

The  Town  took  into  consideration  the  Petition  of  Mr.  John  Vinal 
Usher  to  the  South  Writing  School,  that  an  allowance  may  be  made 
him,  in  consideration  of  the  Straits  and  Difficultys  he  has  been  re- 
duced to  by  means  of  the  Small  Pox  —  After  debate  had  thereon 


Boston  Town  Records,  1764.  119 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Fifteen  Pounds  be  and  hereby  is  allowed 
the  said  Mr.  Vinal,  for  the  reasons  above  mentioned  ;  the  same  to 

be  paid  him  by  a  Draft  on  the  Treasury 

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant.  (Viz'.)  "To  consider  what 
Measures  may  be  proper  for  the  preservation  of  Beacon  Hill." 
was  read,  whereupon.  Voted,  that 

Thomas  Hancock  Esq. 

William  Phillips  Esq. 

Joseph  Sherburne  Esq. 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 

James  Otis  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  take  this  Matter  into 

consideration,  and  Report  as  soon  as  may  be 

Upon  Consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant  (Viz*.) 
*'  Whether  any  Methods  shall  be  taken  for  the  better  regulating 
the  Market,  and  the  Land  Adjacent" — Voted,  that  the  Select- 
men be  desired  to  put  [594.]  Up  One  or  more  Temporary 
Barrs 

Voted,  That  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Thursday  the  24th.  of 
this  Instant  3  O'Clock  P:  M. 

Thursday  May  24th.  3  O'Clock  P:M:  Met  According  to  Ad- 
journment. 

The  Committee  Appointed  the  15th.  Instant  to  consider  what 
Measures  may  be  proper  for  the  preservation  of  Beacon  Hill  — 
Report  —  That  they  had  repaired  to  Beacon  Hill,  view'd  the  same 
and  where  of  Opinion,  that  it  is  Necessary  for  the  preservation 
thereof  to  have  the  High  Way  that  runs  between  the  Land. of 
Thomas  Hancock  Esq.  and  the  Land  of  Mr.  William  Mullineux  to 
ye.  Land  of  said  Thomas  Hancock  on  the  North  side  of  said  Hill, 
and  the  Avenues  thereto  shut  up  and  covered  with  proper  Manure, 
and  sown  with  Hay  Seed  till  it  is  brought  to  a  good  Sword.  And 
whereas  the  said  Hill  is  in  very  great  danger  of  being  destroy' d  by 
Thomas  Hoclson  and  others  digging  Gravel  on  his  Lot  on  the  North 
side  of  said  Hill,  and  there  is  no  prospect  of  the  Towns  being  able 
to  purchase  his  Land,  or  to  prevent  his  digging  without  the  inter- 
position of  the  General  Court ;  they  are  of  Opinion  that  it  would 
be  adviseable  to  apply  to  the  Assembly  for  an  Act  to  prevent  the 
distruction  of  Beacon  Hill,  and  that  the  Representatives  be  In- 
structed to  use  their  influence  to  procure  such  an  Act  —  Which 
Report  being  read,  and  debate  had  thereon  —  the  Question  was 
put —  Whether  the  Town  will  accept  said  Report  —  Passed  in  the 
Affermative 

Voted,  that  the  Petition  of  John  Hill  &  Samuel  Wentworth 
Esq.  relative  to  the  damage  that  part  of  the  Neck  Leased  to  them 
has  sustain'd  in  the  late  Storm,  be  referr'd  over  to  next  Town 
Meeting  for  further  Consideration 

[595.]  The  Committee  Appointed  the  15  Inst',  to  prepare 
Instructions  for  the  Representatives,  Report  the  following 
Draft  — 

Viz1. 


120  City  Document  No.  88. 

To  Royal  Tyler,  James  Otis,   Thomas  dishing  and  Oxenbridge 

Thacher  Esqrs.  

Gentlemen 

You  being  chose  by  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  to  Represent  them  in  the  General  Assembly  the  ensuing 
Year,  affords  you  the  strongest  Testimony  of  that  Confidence  which 
they  place  in  your  Integrity  and  Capasity  —  By  this  choice  they 
have  delegated  to  you  the  power  of  acting  in  their  Publick  Concerns 
in  general  as  your  own  prudence  shall  direct  you,  always  reserving 
to  themselves  the  Constitutional  Right  of  expressing  their  Mind  and 
giving  you  such  Instruction  upon  particular  Matters,  as  they  at  any 
Time  shall  Judge  proper. 

We  therefore  your  Constituents  take  this  Opportunity  to  declare 
our  Just  Expectations  from  jou 

That  you  will  constantly  use  your  power  and  influence  in  maintain- 
ing the  invaluable  Rights  and  Privileges  of  the  Province,  of  which 
this  Town  is  so  great  apart ;  As  well  as  those  Rights  which  are  derived 
to  us  by  the  Royal  Charter,  as  those  which  being  prior  to  and  indepen- 
dent on  it,  we  hold  essentially  as  Freeborn  Subjects  of  G*.  Britain 

That  you  will  endeavor  as  far  as  you  shall  be  able  to  preserve 
that  independence  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  which  charac- 
terises a  Free  People,  and  the  want  of  which  may  in  a  great  meas- 
ure prevent  the  happy  effects  of  a  free  Government ;  Cultivating 
as  you  shall  have  Opportunity,  that  Harmony  and  Union  there, 
which  is  ever  desireable  to  good  Men  when  founded  in  Principles  of 
Virtue  and  Publick  Spirit ;  and  guarding  against  any  undue  weight 
which  may  lend  to  disadjust  that  critical  Ballance  upon  which  our 
happy  Constitution  and  the  Blessings  of  it  do  depend  —  And  for 
this  purpose  we  particularly  recommend  it  to  you  to  use  your  en- 
deavors to  have  [596.]  A  Law  passed  whereby  the  Seats  of  such 
Gentlemen  as  shall  accept  of  Posts  of  Profit  from  the  Crown  or  the 
Governor  while  they  are  Members  of  the  House  shall  be  vacated 
agreable  to  an  Act  of  the  British  Parliament,  till  their  Constituents 

shall  have  ye.  Opportunity  of  Re-Electing  them  if  they  please 

or  of  returning  others  in  their  room 

Being  Members  of  the  Legislative  Body  you  will  have  a  special 
regard  to  the  Morals  of  this  People,  which  are  the  Bases  of  Publick 
Happiness ;  and  endeavor  to  have  such  Laws  made  if  any  are  still 
wanting  as  shall  be  best  adapted  to  secure  them  ;  And  we  particu- 
larly desire  you  carefully  to  look  into  the  Laws  of  Excise,  that  if 
the  Virtue  of  the  People  is  endangered  by  the  multiplicity  of  Oaths 
therein  enjoin'd  or  their  Trade  and  Business  is  unreasonably  im- 
peded or  embarrass'd  thereby  the  grievance  may  be  redressed 

As  the  preservation  of  Morals  as  well  as  property  &  right  so 
much  depends  upon  the  impartial  distribution  of  Justice  agreable  to 
good  and  wholesome  Law  ;  and  as  the  Judges  of  the  Land  do  de- 
pend upon  the  Free  Grant  of  the  General  Assembly  for  support ;  it 
is  incumbent  upon  you  at  all  Times  to  give  your  Voice  for  their 
honourable  maintenance  so  long  as  they  having  in  their  Minds  an 
indefference  to  all  other  Affairs,  shall  devote  themselves  wholly  to 
the  duties  of  their  own  Department,  &  the  further  study  of  the 
Law,  by  which  their  Customs  Precedents  Proceedings  and  Deter- 
minations are  adjusted  and  limited. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1764.  121 

You  will  remember  that  this  Province  has  been  at  very  great 
Expence  in  carrying  on  the  late  Warr,  and  that  it  still  ly  under  a 
very  grievous  burden  of  Debt,  you  will  therefore  use  yuur  utmost 
endeavor  to  promote  Publick  frugality  as  one  Means  to  lessen  the 
Publick  Debt,  and  we  recommend  as  worthy  your  particular  atten- 
tion, whether  any  Expences  can  now  be  necessary  to  maintain  the 
Garrison  service  on  [597.]  Our  Eastern  Frontier;  considering 
that  we  are  now  in  a  state  of  profound  peace  :  Our  French  Enemys 
beiug  totally  subdued,  and  the^e  being  hardly  any  remains  of  the 
Indian  Tribes  ever  again  to  anoy  us 

You  will  Joyn  in  any  Proposals  tiiat  may  be  made  for  the  better 
Cultivating  the  Lands  &  improving  the  Husbandry  of  this  Prov- 
ince :  And  as  you  Represent  a  Town  which  lives  by  its  Trade  we 
expect  in  a  very  particular  manner  that  you  make  it  the  Object  of 
your  attention  to  support  our  Commerce  in  all  its  Just  Rights,  to 
vindicate  it  from  all  unreasonable  Impositions  and  promote  its 
prosperity.  Our  Trade  has  for  a  long  Time  laboured  under  great 
Discouragements,  and  it  is  with  the  deepest  concern  that  we  see 
such  further  Ditficultys  coming  upon  it,  as  will  reduce  it  to  the 
lowest  Ebb,  if  not  totally  obstruct  and  ruin  it.  We  cannot  help 
expressing  our  surprize,  that  when  so  early  notice  was  given  by  the 
Agent  of  the  intention  of  the  Ministry  to  burthen  us  with  new  Taxes, 
so  little  regard  was  had  to  this  most  interesting  Matter,  that  the 
Court  was  not  even  called  together  to  consult  about  it  till  the  latter 
end  of  the  Year,  the  consequence  of  which  was,  that  Instructions 
could  not  be  sent  to  the  Agent,  though  solisited  by  him,  till  the 
Evil  had  got  beyond  an  easy  remeclie,  there  is  now  no  room  for 
further  delay  ;  We  therefore  expect  that  you  will  use  your  earliest 
endeavors  in  the  General  Assembly  that  such  Methods  may  be 
taken  as  will  effectually  prevent  their  proceedings  against  us.  By 
a  proper  Representation  we  apprehend  it  may  easily  be  made  to 
appear  that  such  severtys  will  prove  detrimental  to  Great  Britain 
itself,  upon  which  Account  we  have  reas  >n  to  hope  that  an  Appli- 
cation even  for  a  repeal  of  the  Act,  should  it  be  already  passed 
will  be  successfull.  It  is  the  Trade  of  the  Collonys  that  render 
them  beneficial  to  their  Mother  Country :  Our  Trade  as  it  is  now 
and  always  has  been  conducted  centers  in  Great  Britain,  and  in 
return  for  her  Manufactures  affords  her  more  ready  Cash,  beyond 
any  Comparison,  that  can  possibly  be  expected  by  the  most  san- 
guine promoters  of  these  [598.]  Extraordinary  Methods.  We 
are  in  short  ultimately  yielding  large  supplys  to  the  Revenues  of 
the  Mother  Country  while  we  are  labouring  for  a  very  moderate 
Subsistence  for  ourselves.  But  if  our  Trade  is  to  be  curtail' d  in 
its  most  valuable  branches,  &  burdens  beyond  possible  bearings, 
laid  upon  thai  which  is  suffcr'd  to  remain,  we  shall  so  far  be  able 
to  take  off  tbr;  Manufactures  of  Great  Britain,  that  it  will  be  scarce 
possible  for  us  to  earn  our  Bread.  But  what  still  hightens  our 
Apprehensions  is  that  those  unexpected  proceedings  may  be  pre- 
paratory to  new  Taxations  upon  us ;  For  if  our  Trade  may  be 
taxed  why  not  our  Lands?  Why  not  the  produce  of  our  Lands 
and  every  Thing  we  possess  or  make  use  of?  This  we  apprehend 
annihilates  our  Charter  Right  to  Govern  and  Tax  ourselves 


122  City  Document  No.  88. 

It  strikes  at  our  British  Privileges  which  as  we  have  never  for- 
feited them  we  hold  in  common  with  our  Fellow  Subjects  who  are 
Natives  of  Britain :  If  Taxes  are  laid  upon  us  in  any  shape  with- 
out ever  having  a  Legal  Representation  where  they  are  had,  are 
we  not  reduced  from  the  Character  of  Free  {Subjects  to  the  miser- 
able state  of  tributary  Slaves 

We  therefore  earnestly  recommend  it  to  you  to  use  your  utmost 
endeavors,  to  obtain  in  the  General  Assembly  all  necessary  In- 
structions and  advice  to  our  Agent  at  this  most  critical  Juncture 
that  while  he  is  setting  forth  the  unshaken  Loyalty  of  this  Prov- 
ince and  this  Town  its  unrivalled  Exertions  in  supporting  His 

Majestys  Government  and  Rights  in  this  part  of  his  Dominion  — 
its  acknowledged  Dependence  upon  and  Subordination  to  Great 
Britain  and  the  ready  submission  of  its  Merchants  to  all  Just  and 
necessary  Regulations  of  Trade,  he  may  be  able  in  the  most  hum- 
ble and  pressing  manner  to  remonstrate  for  us  all  those  Rights  and 
Privileges  which  Justly  belong  to  us  either  by  Charter  or  Birth. 

As  his  Majestys  other  Northern  American  Colonys  are  embark'd 
with  us  in  this  most  important  Bottom,  we  further  desire  }'ou  to  use 
your  Endeavors,  that  their  weight  may  be  added  [599.]  To  that 
of  this  Province  ;  that  by  the  united  Applications  of  all  who  are 

Aggrieved,  All  may  happily  obtain  Redress 

All  which  is  submitted  & 

By  Order  of  the  Committee 

Richard  Dana 

The  foregoing  Report  having  been  read  several  Times,  and  De- 
bate had  thereon the  Question  was  put  —  Whether  the  Town 

will  accept  of  said  Draft  of  Inst  uctions  —  Passed  in  the  Afferma- 
tive 

The  Committee  do  further  Eeport  the  following  Votes 

Whereas  it  hath  pleased  Almighty  God  to  permit  the  Small  Pox 
to  prevail  in  this  Town,  whereby  the  Inhabitants  have  been  great 
Sufferers,  as  well  by  the  extraordinary  Expence  it  hath  Occasioned, 
as  by  loss  of  Business  ;  therefore  Voted  that  the  Representatives 
be  desired  in  behalf  of  the  Town  humbly  to  move  that  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  would  afford  us  such  relief  under  our  distress  as 
they  in  their  great  Goodness  shall  think  proper 

Whereas  it  is  conceived  that  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  are  not 
sufficiently  impower'd  by  the  Laws  already  in  being  to  take  such 
steps  as  may  be  necessary  to  prevent  the  Inhabitants  of  other 
Towns  from  bringing  and  spreading  Infectious  Distempers  amongst 
ns ;  therefore  Voted  that  the  Representatives  be  desired  to  use 
their  Endeavors  to  obtain  such  additional  Power  to  be  given  to  the 
Selectmen  as  the  General  Assembly  in  their  Wisdom  shall  think 
proper  to  Invest  them  with 

The  above  Report  having  been  read — The  Question  was  put 

Whether  the  Town  will  accept  thereof  — . —   Passed   in  ye. 

Affermative. 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  Things  that  remain  unfinished  at 
this  Meeting,  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  next  General 

Town  Meeting 

.]     Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 


Boston  Town  Records,  17G4.  123 

are  given  to  the  Honorable  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq.  the  Moderator 

of  this  Meeting  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  &  warned  in  Publick  Town  Meet- 
ing Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  24th.  Day  of  May 
Aum>  Domini  1764 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting was  read. 

James  Otis  Esqr.  was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  Hand  Vote 

The  Petitition  of  a  considerable  number  of  Inhabitants  that  the 
sense  of  the  Town  may  be  known  respecting  Inoculating  at  Nod- 
dles Island :  And  that  such  steps  may  be  taken  as  will  effectually 
prevent  any  Inoculating  Hospitals  being  Erected  in  this  Town,  or 
the  Limits  of  it  —  was  read  —  Also  Letters  from  the  Selectmen  of 
Chelsea,  and  the  Docters  Perkins  and  Loyd 

And  after  the  Debate  had  thereon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  withdraw  their  leave  of 
Inoculating  at  Noddles  Island,  and  that  the  Hospital  there  be  discon- 
tinued ;  And  that  the  Town  allow  of  no  Inoculating  Hospital  within 
the  Limits  and  Confines  of  the  Town  of  Boston 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjournd  to  Monday  next  3  o'Cl. 
P.M. 

[601.]  Voted,  that  the  Notifications  of  the  Adjournment  be 
printed  and  dispers'd  among  the  Inhabitants 

Monday  May  28th.  3  O'Clock  P :  M  :  Met  according  to  Adjourn- 
ment   

The  Committee  Appointed  the  24th.  Instant  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  Petition  of  John  Hill  and  Samuel  Wentworth  Esqra 

Reported  which  Report   being   again  read  and  debate  had 

thereon  the  Question  was  put w'  Whether  the  Town  will  accept 

of  said  Report Passed  in  the  Negative 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded Voted,  That  the  Select- 
men be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  treat  with  the 
Lessees  of  the  Land  on  each  side  of  the  Neck,  and  Report  the 
Terms  upon  which  they  will  give  up  their  Lessees  as  soon  as  may 
be 

The  Committee  upon  the  Clause  in  the  Warrant  —  Viz'.  To 

consider  whether  any  more  effectual  Measures  shall  be  taken  for  the 

preventing  Chimnies  so  frequently  taken  Fire Report,  That 

the  Town  may  be  effectually  secured  from  danger  by  Chimnies 
taking  Fire,  by  force  of  a  By  Law  now  in  being,  if  duly  executed ; 
by  which  the  Selectmen  are  iinpowerd  to  appoint  one  or  more  suit- 
able Persons  to  sweep  the  Chimnies  within  the  Town 

That  in  Order  to  put  said  Law  into  execution,  it  is  necessary  to 
make  it  the  Business  of  some  particular  Person,  who  should  be 
Obliged  and  suitably  encouraged  thereto 

And  whereas  it  appears  that  the  sweeping  of  the  Chimnies  of  the 
Town  duly  at  the  Rates  fixed  in  said  By  Law,  may  afford  a  very 


124  City  Document  No.  88. 

profitable  living  to  any  Person^  who  should  have  an  exclusive  right 
to  the  same  ;  the  Committee  are  therefore  of  Opinion  that  the  whole 
benefit  thereof  be  offer'd  to  Sale :  And  that  the  Person  who  shall 
bid  the  most  be  [602.]  Appointed  by  the  Selectmen  solely  to  do 
said  Business  :  The  Undertaker  giving  Bond  wi;h  sufficient  Sureties, 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duty,  and  to  be  subject  to  the  fol- 
lowing Conditions 

First,  That  he  shall  not  demand  of  any  Householder  to  sweep 
his  Chimnie  at  any  other  Time,  but  from  One  Hour  after  Sun  Rise 
to  1 1  O'Clock  A  :  M  :  and  from  2  O'clock  P  :  M  :  to  Sunset.  And 
that  his  Wages  for  Sweeping  shall  not  exceed  the  Rates  fixed  in 
said  By-Law. 

Secondly,  that  he  shall  sweep  the  Chimney  of  every  Kitchen  or 
Room  where  Victuals  are  usually  cook'd,  five  Times  and  every 
other  Chimney  where  Fire  is  commonly  kept,  twice  in  the  Year         » 

Thirdly,  that  he  shall  constantly  keep  in  the  Business  at  his  own 
Expence  not  less  than  four  able  Bodied  and  faithful  Men  in  the 
Judgement  of  the  Selectmen :  And  if  at  any  Time  he  shall  be 
deficient  herein,  the  Selectmen  shall  Appoint  Men  in  their  room, 
who  shall  have  the  right  and  benefit  of  sweeping  at  the  Rates 
aforesaid,  till  he  hath  supply'd  his  number  as  aforesaid 

Fourthly,  That  he  shall  keep  a  true  Account  of  the  number  of 
Funnells  he  shall  sweep,  and  the  Names  of  the  Persons  severally 
Occupying  the  Tenements  which  he  shall  lay  before  the  Selectmen 
Quarterly,  and  upon  Oath  with  regard  to  the  whole  at  the  end  of 
ye.  Year  if  required 

The  Committee  are  further  of  Opinion,  that  all  Fines  recover'd 
of  any  Householder  by  virtue  of  said  By-Law,  shall  be  for  the 
sole  benefit  of  the  Person  or  Persons  Appointed  by  the  Selectmen, 

and  for  his  further  Encouragement 

All  which  is  submitted 

Joshua  Henshaw  ^>  Order. 

The  above  Report  having  been  read  several  Times,  and  debate 
had  thereon  —  the  Question  was  put  —  Whether  the  Town  will 
accept  thereof  —  Passed  in  the  Affermative 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  [603.] 
A  Committee  to  carry  into  Execution  the  Report  of  the  Committee 
relative  to  Beacon  Hill  so  far  as  relates  to  shutting  up  the  Pas- 
sages, Sowing  the  Ground  with  Hay  Seed  &c 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Constable  in  the  room 
of  Samuel  McClure  who  had  declined  serving,  when  it  appear'd 
that  Stephen  Symms  was  chosen  into  that  Office 

Voted,  That  all  Matters  and  Things  that  remain  unfinished  at 
this  Meeting,  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  next  General 
Town  Meeting 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given 
to  James  Otis  Esq  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for  dispatching 
the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meet  ug  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  &  warned  in  Public  Town  Meet- 


Boston  Town  Records,  1764.  125 

ing  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  6th.  Day  of  June 
Anno  Doni.  1764. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Mr.  Pemberton. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting read. 

The  Precept  for  Choosing  one  Representative  in  the  room 
[604.]  Of  the  Honble.  Royal  Tyler  Esq.  lately  chosen  into  his 
Majestys  Council  -  -  -  -  was  read.  — 

Voted,  That  the  Town  will  proceed  to  the  choice  of  a  suitable 
Person  to  Represent  them  at  the  Great  and  General  Court  the 
remaining  part  of  this  Year  in  the  room  of  the  Honourable  Royal 
Tyler  Esq. 

The  Selectmen  having  declared  to  the  Inhabitants  that  the  Poll 
would  be  closed  at  12  0  Clock.  The  Inhabitants  withdrew  and 
brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Representative  and  upon  counting  & 
sorting  of  them  it  appear'd  that  there  was  no  choice The  In- 
habitants were  desired  to  withdraw  again,  and  bring  in  their  Votes 
which  being  accordingly  done,  it  was  found  that  the  number  of 
Voters  were  527.  and  that  Mr.  Thomas  Gray  had  352  Votes ; 
Whereupon  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  said  Mr.  Gray 
was  duly  Elected. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  legally  qualified  in  Publick  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at 
Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  13th.  Day  of  August  Anno  Dom. 
1764. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  was  read,  as  also  the  Con- 
stables Return  on  said  Warrant,  signed  b}T  each  Constable'  and 
setting  forth  that  they  had  legally  warned  all  the  Inhabitants  of 
their  respective  Wards  of  the  present  Meeting ;  but  notwithstand- 
ing said  [605.]  Return  it  was  made  appear,  that  some  of  them 
had  neglected  to  warn  great  numbers  of  the  Inhabitants  who  were 
qualified  as  the  Law  directs  :  As  in  consequence  of  this  neglect,  the 
Town  could  not  proceed  legally  on  the  Business  of  the  Warrant. 

The  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  Publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  16th.  Day  of 
August  Anno  Dom.  1764. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  -  -  -  read. 

James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  Hand  Vote  - 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants  respect- 
ing Mr.  James  Lovel  Usher  of  the  South  Grammar  School  — 
read. 

The  Proposals  of  Samuel  Wentworth  Esq.  relative  to  the  Lands 
on  Boston  Neck,  together  with  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on  that 
affair,  were  read  ;  After  debate  had  thereon,  the  following  Question 


126  City  Document  No.  88. 

was  put  —  "Whether  the  said  Report  be  Recommitted  —  Passed  in 
ye.  Affermative. 

Moved  and  seconded,  that  the  Committee  relative  to  Boston 
Neck  be  desired  to  Report  next  March  Meeting  the  Terms  upon 
which  John  Hill  and  Samuel  Weutworth  Esq.  will  give  up  then- 
Leases  of  the  Laud  on  each  side  of  the  Neck,  and  the  Question 
being  accordingly  [606.]  Put  —  Passed  in  the  Negative  — 
It  was  then  Voted  that  the  Committee  be  desired  to  Report  the 
same  next  Town  Meeting. 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants  representing,  that 
Mr.  James  Lovell  Usher  of  the  South  Grammar  School  is  about 
leaving  the  Town  for  want  of  a  competent  support :  And  there- 
fore praying  that  some  Measures  may  be  taken,  by  raising  his 
Salary,  or  otherwise,  to  retain  in  the  service  of  the  Town  a  Person 
so  well  qualified  for  the  Education  of  Youth,  was  considered,  and 
a  Motion  made  thereon ;  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  given 
Mr.  James  Lovel  as  a  Gratuity  for  his  services  the  present  Year, 
and  as  an  encouragement  to  remain  in  the  service  of  ye  Town  The 

Question  being  accordingly  put — Passed  in  ye  Affermative 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  (Viz4)  "To  determine  what  steps 
shall  be  taken  in  order  to  comply  with  the  Condition  upon  which 
the  late  Honble  Thomas  Hancock  Esq.  has  left  a  Legacy  to  the 
Town  of  Boston  towards  Erecting  a  House  for  the  reception  of 
such  unhappy  Persons  as  it  shall  please  God  in  his  Providence  to 
deprive  of  their  Reason  —  was  considered  &  thereupon 
Voted,  That  James  Otis  Esq. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
The   HonWe   Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Ezek1  Goldthwait  Esq. 
The   Honble   Thomas  Flucker  Esq. 

Nathaniel  Bethune   Esq. 
Samuel  Sewall  Esq. 
John  Ruddock  Esq. 
John  Barrett  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  take  this  Matter  into 
consideration  and  Report  the  next  Town  Meeting  what  they  ap- 
prehend best  for  the  Town  to  do  thereon —  It  was  further  [607.] 
Voted,  That  said  Committee  be  desired  to  take  into  Consideration 
and  Report  at  the  same  Time  what  they  apprehend  the  most  suit- 
able Method  in  which  the  Town  may  testifle  the  sense  they  have 
of  the  goodness  of  that  IIonble  Gentleman  expressed  by  so  truly 

Charitable  and  important  a  Donation 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  for  dispatching 

the  Business  thereof. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  Publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  24th  Day  of 
Septemr  Anno  Domini  1764, 


Boston   Town  Records,  1764.  127 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting Read. 

The  HonWe  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting,  but  as  he  could  not  attend  by  reason  of  a  great  Cold,  the 
Town  proceeded  to  bring  in  their  Votes  for  another  Moderator  & 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeard,  that  the  Uonble  Andrew  Oliver  Esq. 
was  chosen. 

The  Selectmen  a  Committee  relative  to  Land  on  Boston  [608.] 
Neck  —  Report  —  That  agreable  to  a  Vote  of  the  Town  at  their 
Meeting  the  13th  of  August  last  they  had  received  Proposals  from 
Coll°  John  Hill  and  Samuel  Wentworth  Esq.  in  writing,  which  they 

lay  before  the  Town  for  their  Consideration 

Mr  Hills  Proposal  is  as  follows 

To  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Boston. 
Gentlemen 

As  the  Town  of  Boston  at  their  last  Meeting 
Voted,  That  you  the  Selectmen  be  desired  >!,o  know  of  Mess" 
Wentworth  and  Hill,  what  Sum  they  will  quit  their  Leases  of 
Boston  Neck  for,  and  to  Report  the  same  at  next  Town  Meeting 
—  the  Sum  I '  would  quit  my  Lease  for  is  Four  hundred  Pounds 
lawful  Money,  and  if  the  Town  please  to  accept  thereof  I  oblige 

myself  to  give  up  the  Leases 

Boston  Septemr  16.  1764. 

John  Hill  — 
Mr  Hills  Proposal  having  been  read  and  debate  had  thereon,  the 
Question  was  put  (Viz*)  Whether  the  Town  will  accept  of  Coll0 
Hills   Lease   upon   the   Terms   he  has  proposed  —  Passed  in  the 

Negative 

Mr  Wentworths  Proposal  was  as  follows 

To  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Boston 

Gentlemen 

In  consequence  of  our  repeated  Conferreuces 
relating  my  Lease  from  the  Town  of  Land  on  Boston  Neck,  have 
concluded  if  Town  will  please  to  condescend  to  pay  me  Five  hun- 
dred Pounds,  and  Vote  the  same  at  the  ensuing  Town  Meeting,  to 
give  up  my  Lease  — Boston  Sepr  12.  1764. 

Samuel  Wentworth  — 

Mr  Wentworths  Proposal  having  been  read  and  debate  had 
thereon  —  the  Question  was  put  —  Viz'.  —  "Whether  the  Town 
will  accept  of  Mr  Wentworths  Lease  upon  the  Terms  [609.]  He 
has  proposed  to  deliver  up  the  same  — 

Passed  in  the  Affermative. 

The  Town  having  taken  into  consideration  what  would  be  the 
best  Method  for  raising  the  Five  hundred  Pounds  now  granted 
Samuel  Wentworth  Esq.  for  the  surrender  of  his  Lease  of  Lands 
on  Boston  Neck  —  It  was  Voted,  That  the  Sum  of  Five  hundred 
Pounds  granted  as  aforesaid  be  added  to  the  next  Tax  Bill  that 
goes  out. 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  (Viz')  "'To  consider  what  is  nec- 
essary for  the  Town  to  do  on  the  Land  on  Boston  Neck  "  was 
debated  —  where  lpon  Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to 
receive  Proposals  from  any  Persons  who  may  incline  to  make  them, 


128  City  Document  No.  88. 

relative  to  Repairing,  Leasing  or  Purchasing  the  Lands,  lately 
Leased  to  Samuel  Wentworth  Esq.  whose  Lease  is  now  purchased 
by  the  Town  :  And  that  they  Report  the  same 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant.  (Viz*.)  "To  choose  a  Meet  Per- 
son or  Persons  as  Agents  or  Attorneys  to  prosecute  for  or  defend 
the  Town  in  such  Cases  wherein  there  is  not  yet  any  Person 
or  Persons  legally  vested  with  Authority  for  that  purpose" — ■ 
was  considered;  and  the  Question  then  put —  Whether  any  Agent 
or  Agents  shall  now  be  chosen  —  Passed  in  the  Affermative  —  It 
was  further  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hei*eby  are  Appointed 
Agents  for  the  Town,  for  the  purposes  mentioned  in  said  Article 
of  the  Warrant 

The  Town  having  been  served  with  a  Copy  of  the  Petition  whtch 
Benjamin  Hallowell  Esq.  has  presented  the  Great  and  General 
Court,  for  an  alteration  of  the  run  of  Bread  Street  &c  —  the  same 
was  read,  and  after  Debate  had  thereon,  it  was  Voted  that  the 
Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  take  that 
Matter  under  consideration,  and  Report  at  the  Adjournment  of 
this  Meeting. 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourn'd  to  Tuesday  the  ninth 
[610.]  Day  of  October  next  10  O'Clook,  A  :  M  : 

Tuesday  the  9th  of  October  10  O'Clock  A  :  M  :  Met  according 
to  Adjournment 

The  Selectmen  a  Committee  Appointed  the  24th  of  Septemr  last, 
to  consider  the  Petition  of  Benjamin  Hallowell  Esq.  to  the  General 
Court  praying  that  Bread  Street  should  cross  Milk  Street,  and  be 
continued  up  to  his  House  &c — Report  —  They  have  made  all 
necessary  enquiry  into  the  Matter  of  it,  and  find  that  the  present 
Street  from  Milk  Street  leading  along  said  Hallowells  Ship  Yard 
into  that  part  of  Battery  March  Street  which  runs  from  Hallowells 
House  to  Mr  Peck's,  if  enlarged  according  to  the  intention  of  the 
Committee  of  the  General  Court  will  be  detrimental  to  said  Hal- 
lowell, as  he  sets  forth  in  his  Petition,  and  that  the  Street  which 
said  Hallowell  proposes,  if  it  be  run  according  to  the  Plan  here- 
with exhibited,  will  accommodate  the  Town  as  well  or  better 
than  the  Street  as  it  now  runs :  Therefore  they  advise  the  Town 
not  to  oppose  the  same :  But  by  way  of  answer  to  said  Peti- 
tion, they  would  propose  all  proper  cautions  might  be  suggested, 
that  the  Proprietors  of  private- property,  who  are  thereby  endam- 
aged, may  be  reasonably  indemnified :  That  the  Terms  engaged  in 
his  Petition  be  fully  complied  with ;  and  that  he  further  engage  to 
return  the  southerly  end  of  the  proposed  Street  full  forty  feet  wide 
into  that  part  of  Battery  March  Street  which  leads  from  his 
House  to  Mr  Pecks  Corner  at  his  own  cost  —  Also  that  he  make 
the  whole  of  said  new  Street ;  and  the  return  above  mentioned 
passable  for  Carriages,  and  take  up  the  Pavement  in  the  Old 
Street  and  deliver  the  Stones  on  the  Spot  towards  paving  the  new 
Street  at  his  own  Charge.  '  On  such  Terms  the  Select- Men  appre- 
hend it  for  the  Interest  of  the  Town  to  consent,  that  said  Hallowell 
should  have  the  right  to  all  that  part  of  Battery  March  Street  from 
the  South  side  of  Milk  Street  leading  along  said  [611.]  Hallowells 
Ship  Yard  to  the  North  side  of  Battery  March  Street  which  runs 


Boston  Town  Records,  1764.  129 

East  from  said  Hallowells  House  to  Mr  Pecks  Corner ;  preserving 
]\Iilk  Street  Forty  feet  wide  down  to  the  North  East  Corner  of  that 
part  of  Battery  March  Street  which  runs  along  said  Hallowells 
Ship  Yard,  where  Milk  Street,  was  said  Battery  March  Street  now 
run  accordirg  to  the  projection  of  the  above  mentioned  Committee, 
would  have  been  bounded  by  Mr  Hallowells  Ship  Yard  and  the 
Town  Slip  which  runs  in  breadth  fifteen  feet  down  to  the  Sea  from 
the  bottom  of  Milk  Street  —  Which  Report  being  read  and  debate 
had  thereon  —  The  Question  was  put — Whether  the  Town  will 
accept  said  Report  —  Passed  in  the  Affermative. 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  draw  up  an 
answer  to  Mr  Hallowells  Petition  agreeable  to  said  Reports  and 
that  they  Annex  a  Plan  of  the  Land,  and  a  Copy  of  the  Report  to 
their  answer 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Honorable  Andrew  Oliver  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting 
for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  24th  of  December 
A  D.  1764. 

[613.]     The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     .     .     .     read. 

The  Honble  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  by  a 
Hand  Vote 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Collector  of  Taxes 
for  the  present  Year  in  the  room  of  Gyles  Harris  Esq.  who  has 
resigned,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that  there  was  no 
choice  —  The  Inhabitants  then  withdrew  and  brought  in  their 
Votes  again  for  a  Collector  when  Mr  Sampson  Salter  was  chosen  a 
Collector  of  Taxes  for  the  present  Year 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Honourable  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting,  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved 


[613.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  pub- 
lick  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  11th 
Day  of  March  Anno  Domini.  17G~> 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Samuel  Checkley  Junr. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     .     .     .     read 

Sundry  Laws  enjoined  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting  were  accord- 
ingly read 

The  Honourable  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting  and  took  the  Oaths  respecting  the  paying  and  receiving 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Governments,  of  Connecticut  New  Hampshire 
and  Rhode  Island,  as  required  by  an  Act  of  this  Province 


130  City  Document  No.  88. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  Seven  Selectmen,  and  the 
Votes  being  brought  in  and  sorted,  it  appeard  that 

Joshua  Hensliaw 

Joseph  Jackson 

Benjamin  Austin 

Samuel  Sewall 

Nathaniel  Thwing 

John  Ruddock 

John  Hancock     .     .     Esq™. 

were  chose  Selectmen  for  the  Year  ensuing 

John  Scollay  Esq.  one  of  the  late  Selectmen,  before  the  above 
choice  desired  the  Moderator  to  acquaint  the  Town  tbat  he  was 
highly  obliged  to  them  for  the  Honor  done  him  in  choosing  him  a 
Selectman  for  Eleven  Years  successively ;  but  that  his  Affairs  not 
permitting  him  to  serve  any  longer  in  that  Office,  he  was  desirous 

that  his  Name  might  not  be  put  into  new  List 

[614.]  Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be 
and  herebj1,  are  given  to  the  said  John  Scollay  Esq.  for  his  faithful 

services  as  a  Selectman  a  number  of  Yeais  past 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that 

John  Barratt  Esq. 

The  HonbIe.  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Dolbear 

Isaac  Smith  Esq. 

Mr.  Jonathan  Mason 

Mr.  Henry  Bromfield 

Meletiah  Bourn  Esq. 

Joseph  Gardner  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Whitwell 

Cap4.  Benjamin  Hammatt 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches 

Mr.  Ebenezir  Storer 
were  chose  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing,  and   took 

the  Oaths  required  by  Law 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  it  was  Voted  That  it  be 
determined  by  Yea's  and  Nay's  at  4  O'Clock  Afternoon  Whether 
the  Town  will  choose  any  Person  to  serve  in  the  Office  of  Wardens 

the  Year  ensuing 

Voted,  That  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  3  O'Clock 
P  :  M  :  

3  O'Clock  P :  M  :    Met  according  to  Adjournm' 

The  Votes  were  brought  in  for  Town  Treasurer,  and  upon  sort- 
ing them  it  appeard  that  Mr.  David  Jeffries  was  chosen  and  having 
taken  the  Oath  relating  to  his  paying  and  receiving  Bills  of  Credit 
of  the  other  Governments,  took  the  Oath  of  Office  for  the  faithful 
discharge  of  his  duty,  which  Oaths  were  Administred  [615.]  To 
him  by  Richard  Dana  Esq. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Clerks  of  the  Mar- 
ket, and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Messrs.  Benjamin  Edes 
Edward  Walker 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  1764.  131 

John  Cunningham 
Thomas  Brown 
Ezra  Collins 

Joseph  Tyler  (all  sworn) 

Edward  Blanchard 
Edward  Jackson 
Caleb  Blanchard 
William  Bant 
Joseph  Henderson 
James  Perkins 
were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Market,  for  the  Year  ensuing 


The  Town  having  determined  that  the  Question  agreed  upon  in 
the  Forenoon  to  be  put  —  Viz'.  —  "Whether  the  Town  will 
choose  Wardens  for  the  Year  ensuing  "  shall  be  desided  by  Yea's 
and  Nay's  the  Votes  were  accordingly  brought  in  when  it  appeard 
that   there   were   715   Votes.     437   whereof   were  Yeas   and  278 

Nays 

The  Inhabitants  having  been  ordered  to  withdraw  and  bring  in 
their  Votes  for  Twelve  Wardens ;  a  referrence  was  called  for — 
whereupon   the   Question   was   put  —  "  Whether   the    choice    of 

Wardens  shall  now  come  on  —  Passed  in  the  Affermative 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Twelve  Wardens,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeard,  that 

Mr.  John  Winslow 

Deacon  Benjamin  Church 

Cap1.  Hopestill  Foster 

Richard  Boynton  Esq. 

Mr.  Thomas  Waldo 

Mr.  Samuel  Whitwell 
[616.]  Mr.  James  Richardson 

Mr.  Francis  Shaw 

Deacon  Jonathan  Brown 

Mr.  Alexander  Hill 

Mr.  Thomas  Crafts 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Appleton 

were  chose  Wardens  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Adjourned  to  Tuesday  the  12  Instant  9  O'Clock  Before 
Noon 


Tuesday  Morning  9  O'Clock  The  Town  Met  according  to  Ad- 
journment   

The  Inhabitants  withdrew  and  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Seven 
Assessors,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 
Mess".  William  Fairfield 

John  Kneeland        -----     Sworn 
Benjamin  Church  d°. 

Belcher  Noyes  Esq  d°. 

William  Torrey  .    d°. 

John  Greenough  excused 

Samuel  Downe         -----         d°. 
were  chose  Assessors  for  the  Year  ensuing 


132 


City  Document  No.  88. 


Mr.  John  Gray  was  chosen  Surveyor 

of 

Hemp 

for 

the  Year  en- 

suing 

Mess™.  William  Nichols     - 

- 

- 

- 

sworn 

Clement  Collins 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

Jacob  Thayer 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

Joseph  Edmunds     - 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

John  Greenough 

- 

- 

'    - 

d0'. 

Isaac  Vergoose 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

Henry  Allen   - 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

John  Sergeant 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

[617.]       Richard  Walker       - 

- 

- 

- 

Sworn 

Andrew  Symms 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

William  Payne 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

Samuel  Dyer  - 

- 

- 

Excused 

were  chose  Surveyors  of  Boards  and 

Shingles  for  the  Year  en- 

suing. 

Mess™.  Obediah  Low 

- 

- 

- 

Sworn 

Henry  Allen  - 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

Samuel  Dyer 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

John  Dyer     - 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

Benjamin  Andrew  Esq  - 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

Onesip8  Tileston  Esq 

- 

- 

- 

Excused 

were  chose  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year 

ensuing  — 

Mess™  Samuel  Bangs 

William  Andrews 

Isaac  Bird 

William  Scott 

Ebenezer  Mcintosh 

were  chose  Sealers  of  Leather  for  the  Year 

ensuing  - 

Mess™  Nathaniel  Gardner 

Samuel  Whitwell 

were  chose  Informers  of  Deer  for  the  Year 

ensuing  - 

Mess™  Peter  Cotta    - 

- 

_ 

- 

Sworn 

Manasseh  Masters 

- 

- 

_ 

d°. 

Joseph  Dyer  - 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

John  Harskins 

- 

- 

- 

David  Spear 

- 

- 

- 

Nathan  Spear 

Jonathan  Jenkins 

Samuel  Treat 

Robert  Breck  Jun* 

Job  Wheelwright  - 

- 

- 

. 

Sworn 

Joshua  Pico  - 

- 

- 

- 

[618.]     Mess™  Benjamin  Salt 

- 

- 

- 

Sworn 

Paul  Baxter  - 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

John  Owen    - 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

Thomas  Knox 

- 

•v 

- 

d°. 

Samuel  White 

= 

- 

- 

d°. 

Edward  Cowell 

- 

. 

- 

d°. 

Edward  Potter 

- 

. 

- 

d°. 

Peter  Ellis     - 

- 

- 

- 

d°. 

Timothy  Pease 

- 

- 

- 

da. 

Boston  Town  Records,  1764.  133 


Robert  Treat         -■--•- 

d°. 

were  chose  Cullers  of  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing  — 

Mess"  David  Simons         - 

Sworn 

Thomas  Curtis        - 

d°. 

were  chose  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mr.  Edward  Curtis            - 

d°. 

was  chosen  Hayward  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Messrs  David  Wheeler      - 

Sworn 

Alexander  Edwards 

Benjamin  Wheeler 

d°. 

Lev}"  Jennings 

d°. 

Robert  Hews 

d°. 

Thomas  Parker 

William  Daws 

Thomas  Hitchburne 

Edward  Winter      -        -        -        - 

-    d°. 

Joseph  Nowell 

d°. 

Elias  Thomas  Junr 

d°. 

Richard  Salter 

d°. 

were  chose  Scavingers  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted  that 
John  Ruddock 
Thomas  Marshall 
Foster  Hutchinson.  Esq. 
[619. J     Be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  consider 
what  further  provision  is  necessary  to  support  the  Scavingers  in 
a  due  Execution  of  their  Office  —  and  that  they  Report  next  May 

Meeting 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Five  Pounds  be  remitted  out  of  the 
Ten  Pound  Fine,  to  such  Persons  as  shall  be  chose  into  the 
Office   of    Constable    for   the    Year   ensuing,    and   shall   decline 

serving 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes   for  twelve  Constables ;  the 

Persons  chose  into  that  Office  and  sworn  are 

Messrs  Augustus  Hail 

Nathaniel  Thayer 
Francis  Salmon 
Hezekiah  Usher 
John  Down 
Samuel  Harris 
James  Thomas 
Benjamin  Clarke 
Joseph  Foye 
Benjamin  Barbour 
Edward  Baker 
Elisha  Byles 
Mr.  Henry  Bromfield  chosen  an  Overseer  of  the  Poor  for  the 
Year   ensuing,   having   acquainted  the   Town   that  he   could   not 
serve  them  in  that  capasity,  as  he  was  soon  to  remove  from  this 
Place  —  Voted  unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the   Town    be 
and  hereby  are  given   to  the  said  Mr.  Bromfield  for  his  faithful 
services  as  an  Overseer  a  number  of  Years  past 


134  City  Document  No.  88. 

John  Avery  Esq. 
was  chosen  an  Overseer  of  the  Poor  in  the  room  of  Mr  Henry  Brom- 

field  who  has  resigned 

G20.     Voted,  that  Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Foster  Hutchinson  Esq. 
Mr  Edward  Payne 
William  Phillips  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  draw  up  a  Vote  re- 
specting the  pa3'ment  of  the  Collectors  Premium  &c  to  Report  as 

soon  as  may  be 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  the  Question  was  put  — 
Whether  Constables  and  Collectors  shall  be  chose  sepperate  — 
Passed  in  the  Affermative  —  It  was  then  moved  and  the  Ques- 
tion accordingly  put  — "  Whether  Six  Collectors  of  Taxes  shall 
be  chose  for  the  Year  ensuing  —  Passed  in  the  Negative  — 

Agreable  to  a  Report  of  the  Committee  respecting  the  payment 

of  the  Collectors  Premium 

Voted,  That  the  Sum  of  Six  Pence  on  the  Pound  be  &  hereby  is 
allowed  to  such  Persons  as  shall  be  chose  Collecters  of  Taxes  for 
the  Year  ensuing,  for  all  such  Sums,  as  they  shall  Collect,  and 
that  the  further  Sum  of  Three  Pence  on  the  Pound  be  allowed  to 
said  Collectors,  for  all  such  Sums  as  they  shall  Collect,  provided 
they  pay  into  the  Province  Town  and  County  Treasuries  one  half 
of  the  whole  Sum  they  are  obliged  to  pay  them  respectively  within 
Six  Months  from  the  Time  they  receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the 
Assessors,  and  the  remainder  in  Six  Months  after,  and  provided 
also  that,  each  of  the  said  Collectors  give  Bond  with  sufficient 
Sureties  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Select  Men  for  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  their  Duty  in  said  Office 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Four  Collectors  of 

Taxes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Jonathan  Payson  Esq. 

Mr  Samuel  Adams     --------     declines 

Mr  John  Grant     ---------    refuses 

Mr  Sampson  Salter 

were  chose  into  that  Office 

[621.]     Voted  that  Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Foster  Hutchinson  Esq. 
Mr  Edward  Payne 
William  Phillips  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  Examine  the  State  oi 
the  Town  Treasury,  and  enquire  into  the  Expences  of  the  Town 
and  whether  any  Savings  can  be  made  ;  as  also  to  consider  what 
Sum  of  Money  it  may  be  necessary  to  raise  to  defrey  the  Charges 
of  the  Town  the  ensuing  Year  ;  and  that  they  Report  at  May  Meet- 


The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Sixteen  Fire-Wards  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 

The  Honble  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  1764.  135 

Newman  Grenongh  Esq. 
Cap'  Solomon  Davis 
Mr  William  Cooper 
Mr  Samuel  Austin 
Mr  Joseph  Jackson 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Mr  John  Mico  Wendell 
Thomas  Marshall  Esq. 
William  Holmes  Esq. 
Mr  Joseph  Tyler 
Mr  Jonathan  Williams 
Mr  Timothy  Fitch 
Cap4  Adino  Paddock 
Mr  James  Richardson 
were  chose  into  that  Office  for  the  Year  ensuing 


Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given 
to  John  Scollay  Esq.  and  Mr  Henderson  Inches  for  their  faithful 
discharge  of  the  Duty  of  Fire- Wards,  a  number  of  Years  past. 
Adjourned  to  3  O'Clock  P  :  M : 

[632.]     3  O'Clock  P :  M  :  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 
John  Ruddock  Esq. 

William  Story  Esq.      -  Sworn 

Mr  William  Torrey 
Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 

Samuel  Sewall  Esq.  d° 

John  Hancock  Esq. 

Mr  Ezekiel  Price  d° 

were  chose  Surveyers  of  High  Ways  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant,  Viz4  "  Whether  any  Measures  shall 
be  taken  for  the  better  regulation  of  the  Grist  Mills  "  was  con- 
sidered ;  whereupon  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hei'eby  are 
appointed  a  Committee  to  draw  up  a  Bill  for  the  better  regulation 
of  the  Grist  Mills  ;  and  that  they  lay  the  same  before  the  Town 

next  May  Meeting 

The  Selectmen  were  desired  to  examine  the  Records  respecting 
the  Titles  of  the  Land    Stream  &c  and   that   they  Report   their 

Opinion  at  said  Meeting 

The  Selectmen  Reported  on  the  Account  of  Mr  John  Fenno 
Keeper  of  the  Granary  for  the  Year  past,  which  Account  as  entred 
ia  his  Books  (and  on  File  in  the  Town  Clerks  Office)  was  read; 
whereupon  it  was  Voted  that  the  same  be  accepted,  and  that  Mr 
Fenno  be  accountable  to  the  Town  for  176  Bushels  of  Indian  Corn 
and  70  Bushels  of  Rye  remaining  unsold  amounting  to  £44  ,,10/ 
and  also  for  the  Sum  of  £283  ,,  1  ,,  2  ,,  Cash  now  in  his  hands 
exclusive  of  the  Sum  of  £26  ,,  13  ,,  4  for  his  Salary  &  Assistance, 

as  charged  in  his  Account 

Coll°  Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 
William  Phillips  Esq. 
John  Leveret  Esq. 
were  chose  Purchasers  of  Grain  for  the  Year  ensuing ;  and  they 
[623."]  Are  desired  and  Inipowered  to  give  all  needful  directions 
to  the  Keeper  of  the  Granary  respecting  the  Quantity s  of  Grain  to 


136  City  Document  No.  88. 

be  sold  and  Affixing  the  price  thereof  from  Time  to  Time  as  occa- 
sion shall  require 

Voted,  that  Messra.  Thomas  Gray 
Ezekiel  Price 
William  Greenleaff 
William  Coffin 
Edward  Payne 
be  and  they  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the  Ac- 
counts of  Mr.   Treasurer  Jeffries,  and  also  the  Accounts  of  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  the  said  Committee  are  enjoin'd  to 
Inspect  every  particular  Account  of  the  Moneys  expended  for  the 
use  of  the  Almshouse ;  they  are  also  impowered  when  they  shall 
Audit  said   Accounts   to   allow  such    of  the   Overseers   as   shall 
Advance  Monys  for  the  Relief  of  the  Poor  Interest  on  all  such 
8ums  from  the  Time  so  advanced,  till  they  shall  have  Audited  said 

Accounts 

Mess    Martyn  Gay 
John  Skinner 

were  chose  Assay  Masters  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant  Viz'. 
"Whether  a  Committee  shall  be  chosen  to  Examine  the  Accompta 

of  the  Managers  of  Faneuil  Hall  Lotteries  " 

Voted  that  William  Phillips  Esq. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 
Isaac  Smith  Esq. 
Mr.  Edward  Payne 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  for  that  purpose. 
John  Tuder  Esq. 
Mr  Joseph  Man 

were  chose  Surve3'ors  of  Wheat  for  the  Year  ensuing 

[624.]  Voted,  that  the  Consideration  of  Schoolmasters 
Salarys,  and  all  other  Salarys  and  Grants  be  referred  to  next  May 

Meeting 

Voted,  that  James  Beauteneau  Esq. 
Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 
Thomas  Flucker  Esq. 
Mr.  Thomas  Gray 
be  and  hereby  are  added  to  the  Committee  Appointed  to  Exam- 
ine into  the  Expences  of  the  Town  &c. 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  Act  upon  the  List  of  Jurors 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant.  Viz4.  "  To  Consider  the  Terms  upon 
which  John  Hill  Esq.  will  give  up  to  the  Town  his  Lease  of  the 
Lands  upon  Boston  Neck "  —  was  read  and  debated  —  where- 
upon Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Three  hundred  Pounds  lawful 
Money  be  and  hereby  is  Granted  unto  the  said  John  Hill 
Esq.  upon  Condition  of  his  delivering  up  his  Leases  and  put- 
ting the  Town  in  possession  of  said  Premisses  on  or  before  the 
25th.  of  March  Inst*.  —  And  that  the  Three  hundred  Pounds 
granted  as  aforesaid  be  added  to  the  next  Tax  that  shall  issue  —  It 
was  further  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  upon   receiving 


Boston  Town  Records,  1764.  137 

Coll0  Hills  Leases  to  Rent  or  again  Lease  out  those  Lands,  as 
shall  appear  to  them  most  for  the  Interest  of  the  Town. 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz1.  "  To  consider  the  Proposals 
of  Mr.  James  Bryant  relating  to  the  Towns  Lands  on  the  .North 
side  of  the  Neck  "  was  read  —  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  Act  thereon  and  in  all 
Things  relative  to  the  Lands  &°.  on  Boston  Neck  as  they  shall 
Judge  most  advantageous  for  the  Town 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Proprietors  &  Inhabitants  [Q25.'] 
In  and  near  Long  Lane  "  That  a  further  Allowance  may  be  made 
them  towards  defreying  the  Charge  of  Paving  said  Lane"  was 
read  and  debated  —  whereupon  Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Twenty 
five  Pounds  be  and  hereby  is  Granted  the  Proprietors  of  Long 
Lane  for  the  purpose  aforesaid 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz'— "What  Methods  shall  be 
taken  for  the  Repairing  of  the  Towns  Warehouse  opposite  the 
Golden  Ball  "  was  considered,  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  make  an  Estimate  of 
the  Cost  of  Repairing  the  Towns  Warehouse  opposite  the  Golden 
Ball,  and  that  they  insert  the  following  Article  in  the  Warrant  for 
the  next  General  Town  Meeting — Viz4.  — "To  consider 
"  whether  the  Towns  Warehouse  opposite  the  Golden  Ball  shall 
"be  Repaired  or  sold  for  the  most  it  will  fetch" — It  was 
further  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  in  the  mean  Time 
to  receive  Proposals  from  any  Persons  disposed  to  make  them 
relative  to  the  Purchase  of  said  Warehouse,  and  also  the  Store 
Adjoining . 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz'.  —  "That  the  Sense  of  the 
Town  may  be  taken  respecting  a  Bill  now  pending  in  the  General 
Court  relative  to  Erecting  Wooden  Buildings,  &c  in  the  Town  of 
Boston,"  was  read  and  considered  —  whereupon  Voted,  that  the 
further  Consideration  thereof  be  referred  to  the  General  Town 
Meeting  in  May  next,  and  that  in  the  interem  the  substance  of 
said  Bill  be  printed  and  distributed  among  the  Inhabitants 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  for  widening  Joliffs 
Lane  was  read,  and  after  considerable  debate  Voted  that  the  same 
be  dismissed 

Voted,  that  the  Assessors  be  and  hereby  are  impowered  and 
directed  to  set  for  the  abatement  of  such  Taxes  as  they  shall 
Judge  reasonable  on  every  Thursday  till  the  first  Thursday  in 
April  inclusive  and  no  longer  saving  that  they  be  allowed  to  set 
the  t'.vo  last  Weeks  in  November,  for  the  abatement  of  the  Taxes 
of  such  Persons  as  had  not  an  opportunity  of  applyiug  on  the 
above  limitted  Time,  by  reason  of  their  [026,]  Being  out  of  the 
Province  ;  at  which  Time  they  are  also  allowed  and  Impowered  to 
Abate  the  Taxes  of  such  Persons  as  may  have  died  Insolvent  or 
become  Bankrupts  between  the  said  last  Thursday  in  April  and 
the  last  Day  of  November 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Monday  the  25th  of 
this  Instant  9  O'Clock  Before  Noon 

Monday  the  25th  of  March  9  O'Clock  A  :  M  :  Met  according  to 
Adjournment 


138  City  Document  No.  88. 

The  Committee  Appointed  the  12th  of  March  last  to  Examine 
the  Accounts  of  David  Jeffries  Town  Treasurer  have  attended  that 
Service  and  find  the  same  right  cast  and  well  Vouched,  in  which 
he  Charges  himself  with  sundry  Fines  Rents  an  1  other  Incomes 
of  the  Town ;  as  also  with  the  Tax  of  £7000  ,,  —  ,,  —  also  with 
the  Sum  of  Three  thousand  Pounds  received  of  Harrison  Gray 
Esq.  Province  Treasurer  all  which  amount  to  the  Sum  of  £14480  ,, 
K  ,,  54;  including  £8500  ,,  —  ,,  —  lent  by  tlie  Province  to  the 
Town  1757 

And  the  said  Treasurer  discharges  himself  by  sundry  Abate- 
ments made  the  Collectors  amounting  to  £589  ,,  8  ,,  5^-  by  Drafts 
made  by  the  Selectmen  amounting  to  £3357  ,,  9  ,,  94;  of  which  he 
has  paid  £2248  ,,  19  ,,  64;,  and  by  Drafts  made  by  the  Overseers 
of  the  Poor  which  contain  the  Charges  of  the  Almshouse  and  their 
Expences  in  the  late  Small  Pox  amouuting  to  £3505  ,,46  ,,  8  of 
which  he  has  paid  £22G3  ,,  11  ,,  4i  and  also  with  sundry  Sums 
paid  for  Interest  &c  amounting  to  £121  ,,  3  ,,  f  the .  whole 
amounting  to  £7573  ,,  13  ,,  0-| 

The  said  Committee  have  inspected  said  Drafts  in  a  very  par- 
ticular manner,  and  have  examined  the  Vouchers  produced  by  the 
Overseers  for  the  amount  of  their  Drafts,  and  every  other  branch 
of  publick  Charge  all  amounting  as  above  to  the  Sum  of  £7573  ,, 
13  ,,  04;  as  by  Account  of  Town  Treasurys  in  the  Town  Treas- 
urers Books  Balance  whereof  being  £0906  ,,  15  ,,  5  is  carried  to 
the  Credit  of  new  Account 

[©27.]     Which  Report  and  Account  being  read,  Voted  that 

the  same  be  and  hereby  is  accepted 

Mess19  Nathaniel  Waterman  -----  Sworn 
Jacob  Williams  d°. 

were  chose  Cullers  of  Hoops  Staves  &c  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mr  John  Skillins 
was  chosen  a  Surveyor  of  Boards  &c  for  the  Year  ensuing 


The  Honble  Royal  Tyler  Esq.  Mr  Joseph  Jackson  Cap*  Solomon 
Davis  &  Mr  Timothy  Fitch  having  excused  themselves  from  serv- 
ing as  Fire  Wards  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given 
to  the  said  Gentlemen  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  Duty  of 
Fire-Wards,  a  number  of  Years  past 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desirsd  to  Insert  in  the  Warrant 
for  the  General  Town  Meeting  in  May  next  the  following  Article. 
Viz'  —  To  Consider  some  Method  to  get  this  Town  exempted  from 
the  Province  Law  relative  to  the  choice  of  Surveyors  of  the  High 
Ways 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Four  Fire  Wards  in 
the  room  of  a  like  number  who  have  resigned,  and  upon  sorting 
them  it  appear'd  that 

Coll0  William  Tayler 
Mr  William  Downe  Cheever 
James  Cunningham  Esq. 
Cap4  Benjamin  Waldo 
were  chose  Fire- Wards  for  the  Year  ensuing 

List  of  Names  returned  the  Selectmen  by  the  Assessors  were 


Boston  Town  Records,  1764.  139 

laid   before  the  Town,  whereupon  Voted,  that   the  same   be  ac- 
cepted, and  left  with  the  Selectmen,  who  were   before  chose  to 

act  thereon 

[628.]  The  Committee  Appointed  to  Examine  the  Ac- 
counts of  ye  Managers  of  Faneuil  Hall  Lotteries —  Report  that  they 
had  examined  the  Accompts  of  the  Managers  for  Lottery  N°  3. 

and  found  the  same  right  Cast 

Voted,  that  said  Report  be  accepted,  and  that  the  following 
Sums  be  allowed  and  paid  to  said  Managers  in  full  of  their 
Accounts — Viz* 

To  Thomas  Cushing  Esq. £11,,  11,,— 

Samuel  Hews  Esq.  -     -     -     -     -     -     -      9, ,10,, — 

John  Scollay  Esq.   -     -     -     -     -     -     -    12,,    9,, — 

Benjamin  Austin  Esq  -     -     -     -     -     -    12,,        ,, — 

Samuel  Sewall  Esq.      -     -     -     -     -     -    12  ,,    9  ,, — 

Mr  Samuel  P.  Savage  -     -     --     -     -    11,,    5,, — 

Ezekiel  Lewis  Esq.  -     ------      9,,    9,, — 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  procure  a  sufficient 
number  of  new  Hammers  made  in  the  best  manner  for  the  use  of 
the   Sealers  of   Leather  —  and  that  the  same  be   properly  num- 

ber'd 

The  Committee  Appointed  the  16th  Day  of  August  last  "  to 
consider  what  steps  shall  be  taken  in  order  to  comply  wiih  the 
Condition  upon  which  the  late  Honble  Thomas  Hancock  Esq.  has 
left  a  Legacy  to  the  Town  of  Boston,  as  also  the  most  suitable 
Method  in  which  the  Town  may  testify  the  Sense  they  have  of  the 
Goodness  of  that  Honble  Gentleman  expressed  by  so  truly  chari- 
table aud  important  a  Donation  —  Report  in  the  form  of  a  Vote 

as  follows  Viz' 

Whereas  the  late  Honourable  Thomas  Hancock  Esq.  in  and  by 
his  last  "Will  and  Testament,  among  many  other  very  generous 
and  charitable  Donations  was  pleased  to  give  the  Town  of  Boston 
the  Sum  of  Six  hundred  Pounds  lawful  Money  towards  erecting 
and  finishing  a  convenient  House  for  the  reception  and  more  com- 
fortable keeping  such  unhappy  Persons  as  it  shall  please  God  in 
his  Providence  to  deprive  of  their  Reason  in  any  part  of  this 
Province,  such  as  are  Inhabitants  of  Boston  always  to  have 
[629.]  The  preference"  on  Condition  that  if  the  said  Thomas 
Hancock  Esq.  did  not  in  his  lifetime  build  such  House,  which  he 
seems  to  have  had  in  his  heart  had  it  pleased  God  to  have  spared 
his  life  then  the  same  should  be  built  and  finished  in  three  Years 

after  his  decease. 

Voted,  that  the  Town  of  Boston  gratefully  accept  and  they 
hereby  accordingly  accept  of  said  Donation,  and  as  a  testimony 
of  the  gratitude  of  the  Town,  aud  as  far  as  in  them  lyes  to  per- 
petuate the  Memory  of  the  late  Ilonble  Thomas  Hancock  Esq.  it  is 
further  Voted,  that  the  Name  of  Hancock  be  Recorded  and  enrolled 
amoii'j;  those  of  Faneuil  and  the  other  worthy  Benefactors  of 
this  City,  aud  that  such  House  when  erected  shall  be  called  and 
known  by  the  name  of  Hancocks  Hospital  Thus  while  the  poor 
Unfortunates  therein  provided  for,  shall  be  insensible  from  whose 
Han  Is  they  derive  the  only  possible  alleviation  of  their  miseries 


140  City  Document  No.  88. 

in  the  power  of  humanity,  those  in  all  Ages  who  may  enjoy 
the  inestimable  blessing  of  a  sound  mind  shall  rejoice  in  the 
bountiful  provision  for  the  distressed 

Which    Report   benig    read,  the  Question  was   put  —  "Whether 
the  Town  will  accept  thereof  —  Passed  in  the  Affermative  —  N.C 
Voted,  that  the  Honble.  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq. 
Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Honble.  Thomas  Flucker  Esq. 
Honb,e.  James  Otis  Esq. 

Foster  Hutchinson  Esq. 
Honble.  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  open  a  Subscription 
for  raising  an  adequate  Sum  for  building  and  endowing  a  Hospital 
for  the  reception  and  more  comfortable  support  of  poor  Idiots, 
Lunaticks  and  such  other  unhappy  Persons  Inhabitants  of  this 
Town  as  it  shall  please  almighty  God  in  his  Providence  to  deprive 
of  the  use  of  their  Reason.  Such  Hospital  when  built  to  be  under 
the  direction  and  management  of  such  Officers  as  the  Town  of 
Boston  shall  from  Time  to  Time  choose  and  appoint 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  at  the  Towns  Expence 
[630.]  To  provide  proper  Rolls  of  Parchment,  for  entering  a 
fair  Catalogue  of  all  such  worthy  Persons  as  have  been  or.  shall 
hereafter  be  Benefactors  to  the  Town  of  Boston.  And  the  Town 
Clerk  is  hereby  directed  to  make  out  a  Catalogue  in  Paper  and  to 
lay  it  before  the  Town  for  their  inspection  at  the  next  May  Meet- 
ing, and  against  each  Name  shall  be  entered  the  Estate  or  Sum 
given  with  a  brief  mention  of  the  use,  and  when  approved  by  the 
Town  the  same  shall  be  by  the  Town  Clerk  fairly  Engrossed  and 
entered  in  the  Rolls.  And  thence  forward  no  Name  shall  be  entered 
in  the  Roll  but  by  special  Vote  or  order  of  the  Town.  And  the 
Town  Clerk  or  Recorder  for  the  Time  being  shall  Annually  at  the 
Meeting  of  the  Town  in  March  or  May  lay  before  the  Town  an 
account  of  all  Donations  for  the  Year  preceeding,  that  the  Town 

may  take  order  thereon 

Mr.  Jonathan  Brown  -         -         -         -         -   (Sworn) 
was  chosen  an  Assessor  for  the  Year  ensuing  in  the  room  of  mr. 
John  Grenough  who  has  resigned 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that  the  Report  of  a 
Committee  respecting  the  late  Honble.  Thomas  Hancock  Esq.  Do- 
nation be  published  in  the  several  News  Papers 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  Things  that  remain  unfinished  at 
this  Meeting  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  General  Town 
Meeting  in  May  next,  to  be  then  considered  of  and  acted  upon. 

Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this 
for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved 


[631.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston   legally  qualified  and  warned  in  publick 


Boston  Town  Records,  1765.  141 

Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Tuesdaj-  the  14th. 
Day  of  May  Anno  Domini  1765. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Dr  Sewall. 

The  Precept  and  Warrant,  for  calling  the  Meeting,  read 

Sundry  Laws  _______    read  — 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq.  one  of  the  Selectmen  proposed  in  their 
Name  to  the  Inhabitants  Assembled  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of 
one  or  more  Persons  to  Represent  them  in  the  Great  and  General 
Court  or  Assembby  to  be  held  at  Boston  upon  Wednesday  the  29th. 
Day  of  May  Current ;  and  in  order  thereto  to  consider  and  ascertain 
the  number  of  Gentlemen  to  be  Elected ;  accordingly  it  was  Voted 
to  proceed  to  the  choice  of  Four  Representatives,  and  then  it  was 
declared  by  the  Selectmen,  that  no  Votes  will  be  received  but  such 
as  are  unfolded,  and  that  they  propose  the  Poll  shall  be  closed  at 

twelve  O'Clock 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  the  number  of  Voters  were  found 
to  be  641  —  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that  the  Four  fol- 
lowing Gentlemen  were  chose  Viz4. 

The  Honblc.  James  Otis  Esq.  388 

Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  -  538 

Oxenbridge  Thatcher  Esq.    -         -         427 
Mr.  Thomas  Gray         -         -         -         570 
The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen,  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring 
in  their  Votes  for  a  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  in  order  that  the 
Town  may  proceed  in  transacting  the  other  Affairs  mentioned  in 
the  Warrant,  accordingly  the  Inhabitants  withdrew  and  brought  in 
their  Votes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that  the  Honble. 
James  Otis  Esq.  was  unanimously  chosen. 
■  [632.]     Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  3  O'Clock. 

3  O'Clock  P :  M  :  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

To  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  Boston  in  Town 

Meeting  Assembled  May  14th.  1765 

Pursuant  to  a  Vote  of  the  Town  of  Boston  at  their  Annual 
Meeting  the  15th.  of  May  1764  desiring  the  Selectmen  to  Visit  the 
several  publick  Schools  in  the  Town,  and  to  invite  such  Gentlemen 
to  accompany  them  therein  as  they  should  think  proper,  and  to 

Report  thereon 

We  the  Subscribers  accordingly  attended  that  Service  on  Tues- 
day the  10th.  of  June  last,  accompanied  by  the  following  Gentlemen 

—  Viz'. 

The  Honb,e  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq. 
Andrew  Oliver  Esq. 
Thomas  Fluckev  Esq. 
Harrison  Gray  Esq. 
Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
The  Representatives  of  the  Town 
The  Overseers  of  the  Poor 
Revd.   Ebenezcr  Pcmberton 
Samuel  Mather 
Mather  Byles 
Andrew  Elliot 


142  City  Document  No.  88. 

Samuel  Cooper 

Samuel  Checkley  Junr. 

Mr.  Samuel  P.  Savage 

Mr."  Francis  Shaw 

Joseph  Greeu  Esq. 

Cap'.  Ichabod  Joues 

Joseph  Green  Esq. 

Thomas  Tyler  Esq. 

Joshua  Win  slow  Esq. 
[633.]  John  Tuder  Esq. 

Zachary  Johonnott 

Coll°.  Whiting  of  Connecticut 

Samuel  Fitch  Esq. 

Mr.  Edward  Foster 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Coffin 

Ezekiel  Lewis  Esq. 

Samuel  Hews  Esq. 

William  Phillips  Esq. 

Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 

Samuel  Wentworth  Esq. 
.  Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries 

Dr.  John  Sprague 
And  found  the   South   Grammar  School  had   120   Scholars  the 
North  Grammar  School  47  Scholars  —  the  South  Writing  School 
230  Scholars  the  North  Writing  School  163  Scholars,  the  Writing 
School    in   Queen    Street    148  Scholars,  all  in  very   good   order 


Selectmen  of 
Boston. 


Joshua  Henshaw 
Joseph  Jackson 
Benjamin  Austin 
Samuel  Sewall 
Nathaniel  Thwing 
John  Ruddock 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant.  Viz'.  "  To  consider  some  Method 
to  get  this  Town  exempted  from  the  Province  Law  relative  to  the 
choice  of  Surveyors  of  High  Ways"  —  was  read,  and  after  de- 
bate had  thereon  —  the  Question  was  put — Whether  such  Appli- 
cation shall  be  made  to  the  General  Court  at  their  next  Session 

—  Passed  in  the  Negative 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Flucker  Esq.     -     -     -  Sworn,  was  chosen 

a  Selectman  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given 
Nathaniel  Thwing  Esq.  for  his  faithful  services  as  a  Selectman, 

several  Years  past 

[634.]  Deacon  Thomas  Foster 

was  chosen  an  Assessor  for  the  Year  ensuing —  declines 

Mess".  Payson  and  Salter,  chose  Collectors  for  the  Year  ensuing 
appear' d  and  informed  the  Town  that  they  should  not  serve  them 
in   that   Office  at   the   Bates   stated   at  their  Meeting   in  March 

last 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  —  It  was  Voted  that  the 
further  consideration  of  such  Matters  as  relate  to  the  choice  of 


Boston   Town  Records,  17(>5.  143 

Collectors  be  referred  over  to  the  Adjournment  of  this  Meeting 

and  that  there  be  printed  Notifications  of  the  same 

The  Committee  appointed  the  eleventh  of  March  last  to  examine 
the  state  of   the  Treasury  &c  —  Report  —  That  the   several  Col- 
lectors of  Taxes  appear  by  the  Treasurers  Books  to  be  indebted  to 
the  Town  the  21st.  of  March  last  as  follows  —  Vizc.  — — 
John  Ruddock  Esq.       for  the  Year  1763  £1023,,0,,0 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams        for  the  Year  1763  £1U1„0„0 
for  the  Year  1764  £2452,,  - ,,  - 


3563„0,,0 
Mr.  Jonathan  Pavson,  for  the  Year  1763     £844,,  -  ,,  - 
for  the  Year  1764-  1201,, -16 - 


2046,,-,,- 
Mr.  John  Grant  -  -  for  the  Year  1 764  -  -  -  -  1764,,-,,- 
Mr.  Sampson  Salter  -  for  the  Year  1764     -     -     -     -     1482,,-,,- 


£9878„0„0 
Out  of  which  is  to  be  deducted  the  Sum  of  £1854 — being  the 
amount  of  Premiums  which  will  be  due  to  them  and  of  the  Abate- 
ments made  and  to  be  made  for  the  Year  1764.  so  that  the  Sum 
really  due  from  them  is  £8024,,  in  which  is  included  the  Sum  of 
£7000,, ; — ,,  —  the  Town  Voted  to  raise  at  their  Meeting  in  May 
last ;  and  which  if  the  Vote  then  passed  with  respect  to  the  pay- 
ment of  the  same  is  strictly  complyed  with  will  be  paid  into  the 
Treasury,  one  half  of  it  sometime  this  present  Month,  and  the  re- 
mainder in  August  next;  And  when  the  Sum  of  £8024,,  —  afore- 
mentioned is  received  by  the  Treasurer  he  will  be  enabled  to  dis- 
charge every  demand  upon  him  to  the  21st.  of  March  aforesaid, 
and  there  will  be  a  balance  left  in  favor  of  the  Town  of  £4379,,- 
9,,1^  as  will  more  fully  appear  by  a  state  of  the  Town  [635.] 
Treasury  herewith  exhibited  —  That  by  Information  from  the 
Province  Treasurer  there  is  due  to  the  Province  for  the  Year  1762 

and  1763.  the  following  Sums  —  Viz1. 

From  John  Ruddock  Esq.  for  the  Year  1763    -     -     -     -  £558,  ,15,  ,3 
FromMr.  Samuel  Adams,  for  the  Year  1762  £1140,,  1,,4 
for  the  Year  1763   1927,, 16, ,9 

3067„18„1 

From  Mr.  Jonathan  Payson  for  the  Year  1763        -     -     -    771,,  1,,- 


And  the  whole  Tax  for  the  Year  1764  from  the 

Collectors     -     -     -     of  that  Year     -     - 

Which  with  the  aforementioned  Sum  due  to  the 

Town  of     -     -     -  8024,,—,,- 


£4397„14„4 
;he  I  5705,,  4„2 


Makes  in  the  whole  the  sum  of      £18126, ,18„6 
Which  Sum  is  due  from  the  undermentioned 

Collectors  as  follows,  Viz1 

From  John  Ruddock  Esq.        about      ....     1400  ,,  —  ,,  — 
From  Mr.  Samuel  Adams d°.       -     -     -    -     8000  ,,  —  ,,  — 


3326 

»i 

— 

ii 

— . 

2440 

n 

— 

ii 

— 

2960 

" 

— 

?? 

— 

114  City  Document  No.  88. 

From  M.r.  Jonathan  Pay  son    -  -  d°.        -     -     - 

From  Mr.  Sampson  Salter d°.        -     -     - 

From  Mr.  John  Grant d°.        -     -     - 

£18126  ,,  —  ,,_ 
£5705  ,,  4  ,,  2  of  the  last  mentioned  Sums  according  to  the  Vote 
of  the  Town  ought  to  be  paid  one  half  of  it  in  July  next,  and  the 
other  half  in  December  following 

Your  Committee  are  of  Opinion  it  would  be  for  the  Interest  of 
the  Town  to  take  some  effectual  Measures  to  have  the  Taxes  Col- 
lected and  paid  into  the  Treasury  by  the  Time  fixed  by  the  Town 
for  the  pa\-ment  of  the  same,  the  Expence  of  the  Town  it  is  prob- 
able will  be  thereby  lessoned,  for  as  the  Town  has  a  considerable 
balance  in  its  favor,  if  the  Mony  Voted  Annually  for  the  service 
of  the  Year  was  seasonable  Collected,  it  would  be  in  the  power  of 
the  Selectmen  and  Overseers  of  the  Poor  to  purchase  what  was 
wanted  for  the  Towns  use  at  a  much  cheaper  rate  with  the  Cash 
then  they  can  upon  Credit,  but  it  appears  to  be  of  little  or  no  ad- 
vantage from  Year  to  Year  to  raise  a  larger  sum  than  is  absolutely 
necessary  for  the  service  of  the  Year,  with  a  view  of  preserving 
the  Credit  of  the  Town  unless  the  Taxes  are  seasonably  Collected  ; 
And  unless  some  Measures  are  taken  for  this  purpose,  the  Com- 
mittee submit  it  to  the  consideration  of  the  Town  [636.] 
Whether  it  would  not  be  most  expedient  not  to  raise  any  more  than 
than  £900  ,,  —  this  Year  which  with  the  balance  of  £4370  ,,  9  ,,  If 
aforesaid  would  be  sufficient  to  defrey  the  Charges  thereof  — 
this  will  be  one  measure  at  least  that  will  have  a  tendency  to 
expedite  the  payment  of  the  outstanding  debts  :  However  if  upon 
the  whole  the  Town  should  determine  to  raise  nearly  the  same  sum 
as  usual  Your  Committee  are  of  Opinion  that  £5030.  —  will 
be  sufficient  as  that  Sum  together  with  only  about  £200.  —  of 
the  ballance  aforementioned  will  defrey  the  Charges  of  the  present 
Year  agreable  to  ye  Estimate  hereunto  annexed  ;  there  will  be 
then  left  in  the  Treasury  about  £4100.  —  which  the  Committee 
are  of  Opinion  should  remain  as  a  stock  in  the  Treasury  for  a  fund 
to  be  made  use  of  by  the  Selectmen  and  Overseers  of  the  Poor  as 
they  may  find  it  for  the  advantage  of  the  Town,  and  some  effectual 
Measures  taken  that  such  Sums  as  they  may  from  Time  to  Time 
draw  from  it,  might  be  replaced  out  of  the  Moneys  Annually 
raised  by  the  Town — In  the  Estimate  annexed  provision  is 
made  for  every  Charge  that  it  is  probable  will  arise,  excepting  the 
Charge  of  Repairing  the  Warehouse  on  the  Dock  the  Dams  upon 
each  side  of  the  Neck  and  the  North  Battery  which  the  Committee 
did  not  include  in  the  Estimate  as  it  was  uncertain  what  resolutions 
the  Town  would  come  into  respecting  the  same 

The  above  Report  being  read  and  some  debate  had  thereon,  the 
further  Consideration  was  referred  over  to  the  Adjournment  of 
this  Meeting 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant.  Viz*  —  "Whether  the  Towns 
Warehouse  opposite  the  Golden  Ball  shall  be  repaired  or  Sold  for 
the  most  it  will  fetch" — was  read  —  and  the  Selectmen  having 
thereupon  acquainted  the  Inhabitants  that  said  Warehouse  was  a 


Boston  Town  Records,  1765.  145 

Donation  to  the  Town  and  the  Income  appropriated  for  the  Main- 
tenance and  support  of  the  Publick  Schools — the  Question  was 
put  —  Whether  the  Warehouse  referred  to  shall  be  Repaired  — 
Passed  in  the  Affermative 

It  was  then  Moved,  and  Seconded  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired 
if  they  shall  Judge  proper  to  Let  said  Warehouse  on  a  Lease  for  a 
term  of  Time  not  exceeding  Seven  Years  provided  the  Leaser  will 
undertake  the  Repairs  at  his  own  Expence,  the  amount  of  the 
same  to  be  [637.]  Repaid  him  out  of  said  Rent  or  hire  —  and 
the  Question  being  accordingly  put  —  Passed  in  the  Afferma- 
tive   

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz'  —  "To  take  the  Sense  of  the 
"  Town  respecting  the  Repairs  of  the  Dam,  on  the  East  and  West 
"  side  of  the  Neck  which  have  been  much  damaged  in  the  late 
"Storm"  —  was  read  ;  after  considerable  debate  had  thereon  — 
the  Question  was  put  —  Whether  the  Town  would  at  this  Meet- 
ing proceed  to  raise  any  Moneys  for  said  Service  —  Passed  in  the 
Negative  —  It  was  then  Voted,  that 

Richard  Dana  Esq. 

Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Mr.  Samuel  Swift 

William  Phillips  Esq. 

Cap'.  Hopestill  Foster 

James  Beautineau  Esq. 

Foster  Hutchinson  Esq. 

Mr.  Solomon  Kneeland 

John  Avery  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  Consider  in  what  way 
or  manner  the  Towns  Interest  on  Boston  Neck  may  be  disposed  of 
for  their  most  advantage,  and  to  Report  their  Opinion  as  soon  as 
may  be 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Five  Thousand  Pounds  be  raised  by  a 
Tax  upon  Polls  and  Estates  within  this  Town  for  relief  of  the  Poor 
and  defreying  other  necessary  Charges  arising  within  the  Town 

the  ensuing  Year 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  and  twenty  Pounds  be  al- 
lowed and  paid  unto  Mr.  John  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of 
the  South  Grammar  School  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due  and  to  commence  at  the  ex- 
piration of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr  Peleg  Wiswall  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North 
Gramar  School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
Quarterly  as  it  shall  [638.  ]  Become  due,  and  to  commence  at 
the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allowed  &  paid  unto 
Mr  Samuel  Holyoke  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writing  School 
in  Queen  Street  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due  and  to  commence  at  the  expira- 
tion of  the  last  Quarter  

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  Hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid   unto   Mr  John    Procter   for   his  Salary  as  a  Master  of  the 


146  City  Document  No.  88. 

Writing  School  in  Queen  Street  for  the  Year  ensuing,  the  same  to 
be  paid  him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at 
the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr  Abia  llolbrook  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the 
Writing  School  in  the  Common  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to 
be  paid  him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at 
the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr  John  Tilestone  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North 
Writing  School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  Expira- 
tion of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr  James  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  South  Grammar 
School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly, 
and  to  commence  at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  a  further  Sum  of  Forty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr-  James  Lovel  as  an  encouragement  for  him  to  remain  and 
exert  himself  in  the  service  of  the  Town  the  ensuing  Year,  the 
same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due  and  to  com- 
mence at  the  Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

[639,]  Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr  Ephraim  Langdon  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the 
North  Grammar  School  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  clue,  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Thirty  four  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr  John  Tileston  Master  of  the  North  Writing  School  for 
providing  an  Assistant  the  Year  ensuing,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
Quarterly  as  it  becomes  due  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of 
the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Thirty  four  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr  Abiah  Holbrook  Master  of  the  Writing  School  in  the 
Common  for  providing  an  Assistant  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to 
be  paid  him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at 
the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allow'd  and 
paid  out  of  the  Town  Treasury  unto  Mr  David  Jeffries  for  his  Ser- 
vices as  Treasurer  of  the  Town  the  Year  past,  and  for  all  his 
Expences  in  that  Office 

Voted,  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  and  hereby  is  directed  and 
impowered  to  allow  the  several  School  Masters  Interest  on  the 
Sums  due  to  them  from  the  Date  of  their  Warrants,  to  the  Time  of 
payment  — 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  adjourned  <o  Monday  the  27-  of 
this  Instant  May  9  O'clock  Before  Noon,  and  that  printed  Noty- 
fications  of  this  Adjournment  be  dispersed  among  the  Inhabitants. 

Monday  the  27  Day  of  May  <J  O'Clock  A  :  M  :  Met  according 
to  adjournment 

[640o]  The  Selectmen  appointed  a  Committee  at  a  Meeting 
of  the  Town  last  March  to  enquire  into  the  terms  or  tenor  upon 


Boston  Town  Kecords,   1764.  147 

which,  the  Mill  Owners  hold  the  Mill  Pond  Mills  &c.  And  to  con- 
sider what  addition  or  amendment  may  be  made  to  the  Laws  for 
regulating  the  Grist  Mill  which  would  tend  to  remedy  the  incon- 
veniences  the   Town   now   labours    under   for   want    of  faithful 

management  in  said  Mills  —  Report 

That  the  31st  of  July  1643  the  Town  granted  to  Henry  Simmons 
and  others  all  that  Cove  which  is  now  the  Mill  Pond  on  Condition 
they  Erected  one  or  more  Corn  Mills  within  three  Years  and  main- 
tained the  same  forever,  the  Town  also  obliged  the  Proprieters  by 
said  Grant  to  make  and  maiutain  for  ever  a  Gate  of  ten  feet  in 
breath  to  open  with  the  Flood  for  the  passage  of  Boats  into  said 
Cove,  and  to  make  &  maintain  sufficient  passable  and  safe  Ways 
for  Horse  and  Cart  over  the  Trenches  they  had  by  said  Grant 
liberty  to  dig.  The  Town  further  gave  them  One  hundred  Acres 
of  Land  at  Braintree  for  the  encouragement  of  said  Mill,  and 
stipulate  that  no  other  Common  Mill  shall  be  allowed  except  the 
necessary  occasion  of  the  Town  require  it.  It  has  been  suggested 
by  some  that  there  was  a  more  particular  Covenant  and  Agree- 
ment between  the  Proprietors  and  the  Town,  but  nothing  of  it  can 
be  found  in  the  Towns  Books  or  Papers,  and  upon  enquiry  of 
some  that  have  been  Proprietors,  and  others,  we  are  inclined  to 
thiuk  it  is  a  mistake,  as  they  have  been  acquainted  with  the  Origi- 
nal Grant  before  recited,  but   never  heard  of   any  Covenant  or 

other  Agreement 

Your  Committee  having  informed  themselves  of  the  present 
situation  of  said  Cove  and  Mill,  are  of  Opinion  that  there  has  not 
been  any  forfeiture,  which  subjects  the  Proprieters  to  the  Town, 
except  the  not  maintaining  a  Gate  for  the  passage  of  Boats  into 
the  Cove  up  the  Creek  over  which  the  Mill  Bridge  now  passes  is 
one  ;  For  the  Gate  which  was  there  has  been  for  sometime  entirely 

ruined  and  the  passage  into  the  Cove  that  way 

As  to  any  additions  or  amendments  to  the  Laws  for  regulating 
the  Grist  Mills,  which  would  tend  to  lesson  the  present  diilicultys, 
your  Committee  would  advise  that  if  an  alteration  in  said  Laws 
can  be  obtained,  "A  Clause  in  the  late  Law  which  subjects  the 
Miller  to  a  penalty  of  five  Shillings  in  case  he  refuses  upon  demand 
to  weigh  the  Grain  brought  to  "them,  and  Meal  delivered  out," 
should  be  [641.]  Amended  and  explained,  by  a  Law  providing 
that  the  penalty  may  be  a  certain  sum  upon  each  Bushel,  and  that 
the  Miller  should  be  subjected  to  said  penalty  if  he  does  not  weigh 
Grain  in  &  Meal  out  whether  it  b3  demanded  or  not  —  Which 
Report  being  r;-ad  and   considered,   it  was   then  Voted  that  the 

same  be  accepted 

The  Committee  chosen  to  consider  in  which  way  and  manner  the 
Towns  Interest  on  Boston  Neck  may  be  disposed  of  for  their  best 
advantage  —  Report  —  That  having  carefully  viewed  the  Dams 
aforesaid  and  the  Towns  Lands,  on  each  side  of  said  Neck,  es- 
pecially those  heretofore  Leased  to  John  Hill  Esq.  and  to  Samuel 
Wentworth  Esq.  and  having  maturely  considered  the  quantity 
quality  and  situation  thereof,  are  fully  of  Opinion  that  it  will  not 
be  for  the  Interest  of  said  Town  but  to  their  great  damage  and 
loss  either   to  repair  or  uphold  either  of  those  Dams  or  to  now 


148  City  Document  No.  88. 

build  any  Dam  there  or  to  keep  any  of  the  Lands  Leased  as  afore- 
said in  their  hands  ;  but  that  it  will  be  most  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Town  to  sell  the  same  Lands  ou  each  side  the  High  Way  there  as 
soon  as  may  be  reserving  to  the  Town  whensoever  they  shall  Judge 
it  needful  liberty  to  set  up  and  build  maintain  aud  uphold  good 
Banks  or  Sea  ^Valls  adjoining  to  cither  side  of  said  High  Way, 
sufficient  to  preserve  the  Causeys  and  Pavements  of  the  said  Way 
from  being  washed  away  or  broken  up  by  the  violence  of  the 
Winds  and  Waves ;  and  likewise  restraining  the  Purchaser  or 
Purchasers  of  the  same  Lands  their  Heirs  and  Assigns  for  ever, 
from  taking  or  carrying  any  of  the  Soil  Claj-  or  Earth  from  off  the 
same  Lands 

The  above  Report  being  read  and  debate  had  thereon  the  fur- 
ther Consideration  was  referred  over  to  the  next  Town  Meeting. 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  Things  that  remain  unfinished  at 
this  Meeting  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  next  General 
Town  Meeting 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Honble  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for  dis- 
patching the  Business  thereof. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved'. 


[642.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  &  warned  in  publick 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  27th  of  May 
Anno  Domini  1765. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -------   read 

The  Honb,e  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator. 

The  Bill  pending  in  the  General  Court  relative  to  Wooden 
Buildings,  was  read,  and  that  the  sense  of  the  Town  respecting  the 
same  might  be  the  better  taken  it  was  considered  Paragraph  by 
Paragraph,  when  it  appeared  that  the  Bill  in  General  was  agreable, 
—  The  Clauses  disapproved  of,  and  which  the  Representatives 
were  desired  to  have  out  in  their  new  Draft  of  a  Bill  to  be  offered 
by  them  to  the  General  Court  at  the  approaching  Session  were  as 
follows  —  Vizt. 

1st  "  And  if  after  the  expiration  of  the  said  term  of  ten  Days 
the  Selectmen  shall  Judge  it  necessary  that  such  House  shall  be 
Shingled,  they  may  if  they  see  cause  with  the  approbation  of  three 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  Quorum  unus  within  the  said  Town,  signi- 
fied in  writing  under  their  hands,  grant  Lisence  for  Shingling  such 
Roof,  provided  that  the  said  Justices  shall  be  such  as  shall  be 
specially  authorized  for  that  purpose  by  the  Governor  or  Com- 
mander in  Chief,  with  Lhe  advice  and  consent  of  the  Council  to  act 
therein  during  pleasure  :  And  in  cast;  there  shall  not  at  any  time 
hereafter  he  three  Justices  specially  appointed  in  manner  afore- 
said, and  the  Governor,  and  Council  shall  not  upon  application 
from  the  Selectmen  proceed  to  authorize  such  ;  then  the  Court  of 
General  Session  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  may  ap- 
point three  such  Justices  for  the  purpose  aforesaid ;  And  it  shall 
and  may  be  lawful  upon  Liseuse  thus  had  and  obtained,  for  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1765.  149 

Owner  or  Owners  of  such  House  to  cause  the  same  to  be  Shingled 
accordingly  " 

2nd  "  And  every  Carpeuter  or  other  Person  who  shall  Erect  or 
remove  any  House  or  Building  contrary  to  the  true  intent  &  mean- 
ing of  this  Act,  or  shall  Shiugle  the  Roof  of  any  old  Dwelling 
House.  [643.]  In  tlie  Town  of  Boston  without  License  ob- 
tained as  before-mentioned,  such  Carpenter  or  other  Person  shall 
likewise  forfeit  and  pay  the  sum  of  Fifty  Pounds." 

3rd  n  That  the  Owner  of  any  and  every  House  of  more  than  Seven 
Feet  in  hight  which  shall  be  built  in  the  said  Town  of  Boston, 
after  the  publication  of  this  Act,  otherwise  then  with  Stone  or 
Brick  as  it  is  by  Law  provided  shall  forfeit  and  pay  the  further 
Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  foi  eveiy  such  Offence  " 

4th  "  With  the  approbation  of  three  Justices  of  the  Peace 
Quorum  unus,  within  the  said  Town  appointed  as  aforesaid,  and 
signified  by  them  in  manner  aforesaid." 

5th  "  And  may  likewise  be  recovered  by  Presentment  Indict- 
ment or  Information.  And  the  Attorney  General  of  this  Province  ; 
as  also  the  Grand  Jurors  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  are  hereby 
respectively  required  from  Time  to  Time  diligently  to  enquire  into 
inform  of  and  present  all  Offences  that  shall  be  committed  against 
the  same  " 

6th  "  Provided  that  nothing  in  this  Act  shall  be  construed  or 
understood  to  exempt  any  Offenders  from  like  penaltys  already 
incurred  for  the  breach  of  either  of  the  Laws  beforementioned  "  — 

Mr.  John  Winslow 
was  chosen  a  Selectman  for  the  Year  ensuing  Sworn 

Mr  Daniel  Pecker 
was  chosen  an  Assessor,  for  the  Year  ensuing.  d°. 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  3  O'Clock  P.M. 

3  O'Clock  P  :  M  :    Met  according  to  Adjournment 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz'.  —  "To consider  what  Measures 
may  be  proper  for  the  preservation  of  Beacon  Hill  "  was  read,  and 
after  debate  had  thereon  it  appearing  to  the  Town  that  said  Hill 
is  in  veiy  great  danger  of  being  destroyed  by  Thomas  Hodson  & 
Others  digging  Gravel  on  his  Lot  on  North  side  of  said  Hill,  and 
there  being  no  prospect  of  the  Towns  being  able  to  purchase 
his  Land  or  to  prevent  his  digging,  without  [644.]  The  inter- 
position of  the  General  Court,  therefore 

Voted,  that  the  Representatives  of  the  Town  be  and  they  hereby 
are  directed  to  use  their  influence  in  the  General  Court  at  the  next 
Session,  that  an  Act  may  be  provided  for  the  purposes  afore- 
said   

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant  Viz4.  ''  To  consider  what  Measures 
may  be  proper  to  prevent  tho  Loss  of  Deer  Island  Head  by  the 
Iucroachmcn.fi  of  the  Sea."  was  read,  and  thereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  Examine  into  tho  present  Circumstances  of  Deer  Island 
Head  and  to  make  a  true  Representation  thereof  to  the  General 
Court  at  their  next  Session  ;  at  the  same  Time  setting  forth  of 
what  importance  it  is  to  the  trading  Interest  of  this  Province  that 
said  Head  Land  and   thereby  this  Harbour  should  be  preserved 


150  City  Document  No.  88. 

from  the  Ruin  that  now  threatens  them,  and  praying  that  such 
speedy  and  effectual  Measures  may  be  taken  for  this  purpose,  as 
the  General  Court  in  their  great  Wisdom  shall  think  meet 

Upon  Consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant  Viz'.  — ■ 
"What  further  Steps  shall  betaken  to  obtain  relief  from  the 
General  Court  respecting  the  great  charge  incurred  by  the  Small 
Pox — Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  draft  a 
Petition  to  the  General  Court,  representing,  That  by  means  of  the 
Small  Pox  which  in  the  providence  of  God  was  permitted  to 
prevail  in  this  Town  the  Year  past,  the  Inhabitants  have  been 
great  Sufferers,  as  well  by  the  extraordinary  Expence  it  hath 
occasioned  as  by  loss  of  Business  ;  and  therefore  humbly  praying 
that  the  General  Court  would  afford  us  such  relief  under  our  dis- 
tress as  they  in  their  great  Goodness  shall  think  proper,  and  that 
the  Selectmen  hand  said  Draft  to  our  Represeutatives  who  are 
desired  by  the  Town  to  prefer  the  same  at  the  next  Session  of  the 
General  Court 

Report  of  Committee  relative  to  the  Expences  of  the  Town 
again  read,  and  thereupon  Voted,  That  the  same  be  accepted 

[645.]  That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz*.  —  "To  consider 
the  Votes  relating  to  Collectors  past  last  March  Meeting"  was 
read,  and  the  Question  put  Viz'.  —  Whether  the  Vote  respecting 
the  Collectors  Premium  shall  be  reconsidered,  passed  in  the  Nega- 
tive   

The  Selectmen  having  laid  before  the  Town  Lists  of  Names  for  the 
Jury  Boxes,  the  same  were  accepted  by  the  Town,  and  the  Select- 
men desired  to  place  them  in  the  Boxes  accordingly 

The  Vote  respecting  the  number  of  Collectors  passed  last  March 
Meeting,  and  which  confined  the  choice  to  four  only,  was  now  re- 
considered, whereupon 

Voted,  that  there  be  Six  Collectors  of  Taxes  chose  for  the  Year 
ensuing 

The  Inhabitants  withdrew  and  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Six 
Collectors  of  Taxes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 
Messrs.  Samuel  Adams     -     -     -     declines 
Jonathan  Payson  d°. 

John  Grant  d°. 

Sampson  Salter  d°. 

Samuel  Ruggles 
Benjamin  Edes 
were  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Fryday  next  3 
O'Clock  P:  M: 

Met  according  to  Adjournment 

The  Report  of  a  Committee  relative  to  the  Towns  Land  on 
Boston  Neck  ;  the  further  Consideration  whereof  being  referred 
over  to  this  Meeting  ;  was  read  —  And  after  considerable  debate 
had  thereon,  the  Question  was  put.  Viz'.  —  Whether  said  Report 
shall  be  accepted  —  Passed  in  the  Negative 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  it  was  Voted,  that  the  Lands, 
[646.]  On  each  side  of  the  Neck  be  Leased  in  their  present  State 
and  Circumstances  at  the   best  discretion  of  the  Selectmen  —  It 


Boston  Town  Records,  1765.  151 

was  further  Voted,  that  the  term  of  Time  on  which  said  Lands  are 
to  be  Leased,  shall  not  exceed  three  Years 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  —  the  Question  was  put  Viz'. 
—  Whether  the  Consideration  of  the  Repairs  of  the  North  Battery 
i  hall  be  referred  to  another  Meeting — Pas-ed  in  ye.  Negative 

It  was  then  Voted  that 

The  Honble.  Samuel  Wells  Esq. 

James  Beautineau  Esq. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Cap'.  Nathaniel  Greenwood 
Mr.  Robert  Peirpoint 
be   and   hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  enquire  into  the 
present  state  of  the  North  Battery,  and  Report  their  Opinion,  and 
what  they  apprehend  will  be  the  Sum  necessary  to  put  the  same  in 
proper  Repairs  —  Report  to  be   made  at  the  Adjournment  of  this 
Meeting 

Jonathan  Payson  Esq. 
Mr.  Sampson  Salter 
were  again  chose  Collectors  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Friday  the  17th.  of 
June  next  3  O'Clock  P  :  M  : 

Fryday  June  17th.  3  O'Clock  P:  M  Met  according  to  Adjourn- 
ment   

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  two  Collectors  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 

Mess"  Edward  Hollyday 
Edward  Church 
were  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  Year  ensuing 

[647.]  The  absence  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  ap- 
pointed the  27th  of  May  last  "to  enquire  into  the  present  state  of 
the  North  Battery  and  what  will  be  a  sum  sufficient  to  put  the 
same  into  proper  repair,"  having  prevented  said  Committee  from 
Reporting  their  Opinion  at  this  Adjournment  as  was  desired  and 
intended — the  Question  was  put  Viz' — "Whether  the  Con- 
sideration of  this  Matter  shall  now  come  on — passed  in  the 
Affermative  —  The  Town  was  then  informed  that  their  Com- 
mittee were  of  Opinion  when  on  the  Premisses  that  the  Battery 
and  Whaiff  should  be  repaired,  and  that  the  Charge  thereof  would 
not  exceed  £2o0  —  after  some  debate  it  was 

Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  desired  to  repair 
the  North  Battery  and  the  Wharff  adjoining,  provided  nevertheless 
that  the  Expence  thereof  shall  not  exceed  the  Sum  of  Two  hun- 
dred and  thirty  Pounds  lawful  Money 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  Things  that  remain  unfinish'd  at 
this  Meeting  be  an  1  hereby  arc  referred  over  to  the  next  General 
Town  Meeting,  to  be  then  considered  and  acted  upon 

Voted,  unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  the  HonbIe  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this 

Meeting  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof — 

Then  the  Meeting;  was  dissolved 


152  City  Document  No.  88. 

At  a  legal  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of 
the  Town  of  Boston  at  Faneuil  Hall  August  27th  Anno  Domini 
1765 

The  Honble  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator 


[648.]  The  Town  having  an  utter  detestation  of  the  extraor- 
dinary &  violent  proceedings  of  a  number  of  Persons  unknown 
against  some  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  same,  the  last  Night  — 
Vote  unanimously  that  the  Selectmen  and  Majestrates  of  the  Town 
be  desired  to  use  their  utmost  endeavors  agreable  to  Law  to  sup- 
press the  like  disorders  for  the  future,  and  that  the  Freeholders 
and  other  Inhabitants  will  do  every  thing  in  their  power  to  assist 
them  therein 

Voted,  That  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  will  be  ready  on  all 
occasions  to  assist  the  Selectmen  and  Majestrates  in  the  Suppres- 
sion of  all  Disorders  of  a  like  nature  that  mny  happen  when  called 
upon  for  that  purpose 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given 
to  the  Honble  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for 

dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  12th  of 
Septemr  1765. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  -  read. 

The  Honble  James  Otis  was  chosen  Moderator 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz'  "To  confer  upon  "such 
"  Measures  as  shall  appear  necessary  to  be  taken  in  consequence 
"of  [649.]  The  Stamp  Act,  and  other  Matters  of  Greiveance, 
"and  to  determine  whether  Instructions  shall  be  given  to  the 
"  Representatives  of  the  Town  in  General  Assembly  for  their  Con- 
duct at  this  very  alarming  Ciicis"  —  was  read,  whereupon 
—  Voted,  unanimously  that  Instructions  be  given  our  Repre- 
sentatives in  General  Assembly 

Voted,  that  the  Honble  Samuel  Wells  Esq. 
Richard  Dana  Esq. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Mr  Samuel  Adams 
John  Erving  Jr.  Esq. 
Joseph  Green  Esq. 
John  Ruddock  Esq 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  of«what  In- 
structions are  proper  to  be  given  the  Representatives  of  the  Town 
as  to  their  Conduct  in  General  Court  for  the  remainder  of  the 

Year 

On  a  Motion  made  and  seconded.  Voted  unanimously  that 
The  Honble  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator 
The  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen  &  Town  Clerk 
The  Representatives  of  the  Town,  together  with 


Boston   Town  Records,   1765.  153 

The  Honb,e  Samuel  Wells  Esq. 
The  Honb!e  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
The  Honble  Thomas  Flu cker  Esq. 
The  Honble  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq. 
The  Honble  Harrison  Gray  Esq. 
The  Honb,e  John  Krving  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  wait  upon  the  Honb,e 
Lord  Adam  Gorden,   a  Member  of  the   British  Parliament  now 
making  the  Tour  of  America,  to  Congratulate  his  Lordship  in  the 
Name  of  the  Town,  upon  his  safe  Arrival ;  to  express  their  Wishes 
for  his  Lordships  Prosperity  ;  and  to  request  his  kind  Representa- 
tions and  Influence  in  favor  of  this  Town  and  Province  as  his 
Lordships  Wisdom  and  Justice  shall  direct ;  particularly  with  Re- 
gard to  the  new  Parliamentary  Regulations,  that  so  nearly  affect 
the  Rights  as  well  as  Trade  of  the  American  Collonies,  and  have 
created    such    universal   uneasiness   among   his    Majestys    loyal 

[650.]  Subjects  on  this  Continent 

The  Petition  of  Cap1.  Onesiphorus  Tileston  and  others  Trades- 
men employed  in  repairing  Faneuil  Hall  praying  that  the  Town 
would  grant  them  some  Relief  on  account  of  the  length  of  Time 
they  have  already  and  are  still  like  to  be  out  of  the  Mony  due  to 

them  was  read  and  debated  —  whereupon 

Voted,  that  The  Honble  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
The  Honb,e  Samuel  Well  Esq. 
John  Barrett  Esq. 
Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 
Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
Meletiah   Bourn  Esq. 
Samuel  Grant  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  Accounts  of  the  Managers  of  the  Lotteries  for  the  Repairs 
of  Faneuil  Hall  so  far  as  they  have  been  drawn  as  also  the  Accounts 
of  the  several  Tradesmen  concerned  in  said  Repairs,  and  that  they 

Report  at  the  Adjournment  of  this  Meeting 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Wednesday  next  3 
O'Clock  P :  M  : 

Wednesday  the  18th  of  September  3  O'Clock  P :  M  :  Met  accord- 
ing to  Adjournment 

The  Committee  Appointed  by  the  Town  to  wait  upon  Lord 
Adam  Gorueu,  with  their  address  —  Reported  —  that  they  had 
attended  that  service,  and  presented  his  Lordship  with  an  attested 
Copy  of  the  Vote,  to  which  he  was  pleased  to  return  the  following 
Answer  in  Writing 

Gentlemen 

I  find  myseif  very  sensibly  obliged  to  you  for  this 
Mark  of  Your  Attention,  and  for  the  Honor  you  have  done  me  by 
your  unanimous  Address  of  Yesterday,  for  which  and  your  good 
[G51.]  Wishes  expressed  in  it,  1  beg  leave  to  return  you  my  best 
Thanks. 

I  have  had  much  Satisfaction  in  the  Tour  I  have  made  in  British 
America,  and  am  extremely  sorry  to  understand,  there  should  at 


154  City  Document  No.  88. 

this  Time  subsist  any  Uneasiness  among  his  Majest}Ts  good  Sub- 
jects there  ;  more  particularly  in  the  Antient  and  Loyal  Province 

and  Town  of  Boston  

What  little  Influence  I  may  be  supposed  to  have,  shall  ever  be 
chearfully  employed  where  the  Interest  of  Groat  Britian  &  Amer- 
ica are  concerned,  which  to  me  seem  inseperable :  Having  ever 
been  of  Opinion  that  any  Man  who  could  wish  to  see  a  Distinction 
or  endeavor   to   Create  a  Difference    between  them,  must  be  an 

Enemy  to  both 

I  have  the  Honor  to  be  with  much  Truth  &  Esteem 
Gentlemen 

Your  Most  Obedient  and 
Most  Humble  Servant 
Boston  September  13th  1765.  Ad  :  Gorden 


The  Committee  .Appointed  the  12th  Instant  on  the  Petition  of 
Onesip8  Tileston  and  others  —  Report  — 

That  the  Accounts  of  the  Managers  of  the  Lotteries  for  repair- 
ing Faneuil  Hall  so  far  as  they  have  been  drawn  are  right  cast. 
As  to  the  Accounts  of  the  Several  Tradesmen  concerned  in  said 
Repairs,  the  Committee  apprehend  they  have  no  Just  cause  to  com- 
plain of  the  Town  should  they  tarry  for  the  Mony  without  Interest 
untill  it  is  raised  by  Lottery,  which  is  exactly  conformable  to  their 
Agreement  with  the  Selectmen,  and  which  Contract  concludes  with 
these  words  Viz1  L'And  to  wait  for  our  pay  untill  the  Mony  is 
raised  by  Lottery"  therefore  the  Committee  are  of  Opinion  that 
the  Town  do  not  at  present  make  any  provision  or  allowance 
towards  discharging  said  Accounts  or  any  part  thereof  — '■ — 

The  Committee  beg  leave  to  recommend  to  the  Town  that  when 
the  Accounts  of  these  Tradesmen  shall  have  been  properly  liqui- 
dated, and  as  sufficient  Sums. from  Time  to  Time  are  raised  by 
Lottery  to  discharge  them,  tha't  at  the  then  next  Meeting  of  the 
Town,  all  the  hardships  the}'  may  have  suffered  by  the  length  of 
Time  they  have  laid  out  of  their  Moneys,  or  other  ways  may  be 
maturely  weighed  and  such  an  Allowance  made  them  by  the  Town 

as  that  Time  may  be  Judged  proper 

Royal  Tyler  p  Order 

[652.]     Which  Report  being  read  and  debate  had  thereon  the 

Question  was    put r-  Whether   the   same   shall   be  accepted  — 

Passed  in  the  Affermative 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  that  there  be  a  reconsideration  of 

the   above   Vote,    and   the    Question    being  accordingly  put 

Passed  in  the  Negative 

On  a  motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted  that 

Mr  Samuel  Adams 

Mr  Thomas  Gray 

John  Rowe  Esq. 

Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 

Nicholas  Boy  Is  ton  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  Liquidate  the  several 
Accounts  of  the  Tradesmen  concerned  in  the  Repairs  of  Faneuil 
Hall. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1765.  155 

The  Committee  Appointed  to  draw  up  Instructions  for  the  Rep- 
resentatives of  the  Town  reported  the  following  Draft 

To  the  Honble  James  Otis  Esq.  Thomas  Gushing  Esq.  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Gray. 
Gentlemen 

At  a  Time  when  the  British  American  Subjects  are  every  where 
loudly  complaining  of  arbitrary  unconstitutional  Innovations  the 
Town  of  Boston  can  not  any  longer  remain  silent  without  Just 
Imputation  and  Inexcusable  Neglect.  We  therefore  the  Freeholders 
and  other  Inhabitants  being  legally  Assembled  in  Faneuil  Hall,  to 
consider  "What  steps  are  necessary  for  us  to  take  at  this  alarming 
Crisis,  think  it  proper  to  communicate  to  you  our  united  Senti- 
ments, and  to  give  you  our  Instructions  thereupon 

It  fills  us  with  very  great  Concern  to  find,  that  Measures  have  been 
Adopted  by  the  British  Ministry,  and  Acts  of  Parliament  made, 
which  press  hard  upon  our  invaluable  Rights  and  Privileges  and 
ten  greatly  to  distress  the  Trade  of  the  Province,  by  which  we 
have  heretofore  been  able  lo  contribute  so  large  a  share  towards 
the  Inriching  [653,]  Of  the  Mother  Country  —  But  we  are  more 
particularly  alarmed  and  astonished  at  the  Act  called  the  Stamp 
Act,  by  which  a  very  grievous  and  we  apprehend  unconstitutional 
Tax  is  to  be  laid  upon  the  Colonies 

By  the  Royal  Charter  granted  to  our  Ancestors  the  power  of 
making  Laws  for  our  internal  Government  and  of  levying  Taxes, 
is  vested  in  the  General  Assembly  :  And  by  the  same  Charter  the 
Inhabitants  of  this  Province  are  entitled  to  all  the  Rights  &•  Privi- 
leges of  natural  free  born  Subjects  of  Great  Britain ;  the  most 
essential  Rights  of  British  Subjects  are  those  of  being  represented 
in  the  same  Body  which  exercises  the  power  of  levying  Taxes  upon 
them,  and  of  having  their  Property  tryed  by  Juries ;  These  are 
the  very  Pillars  of  the  British  Constitution,  founded  in  the  common 
Rights  of  Mankind.  It  is  certain  we  were  in  no  sense  represented 
in  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  when  this  Act  of  Taxation  was 
made :  And  it  is  also  certain  that  this  Law  admits  of  our  prop- 
ertys  beiug  tryed  in  Controversies  arising  from  internal  concerns 
by  Courts  of  Admiralty  without  a  Jury  :  It  follows  that  at  once  it 
annihilates  the  most  valuable  Privileges  of  our  Charter,  deprives 
us  of  the  most  essential  Rights  of  Britain  and  greatly  weakens  the 
best  securities  of  our  Lives,  Liberties  and  Estates ;  which  may 
hereafter  be  at  the  disposal  of  Judges  who  may  be  Strangers  to 
us,  and  perhaps  malicious,  mercinary,  corrupt  and  oppressive. 
But  admitting  that  we  had  no  complaints  of  this  Nature  we  should 
still  have  reasou  to  except  against  the  Iniqnality  of  these  Taxes  : 
It  is  well  known  that  the  People  of  this  Province  have  not  only 
settled  this  Country,  but  enlarged  and  defended  the  British  Do- 
minion in  America  with  a  vast  Expence  of  Treasure  and  Blood  ; 
they  have  exerted  themselves  in  the  most  distinguished  services 
for  their  King  by  which  they  have  often  been  reduced  to  the  great- 
est distress  ;  And  in  the  late  War  more  especially  by  their  surpriz- 
ing Exertions,  they  have  brought  upon  themselves  a  Debt  almost 
insupportable  ;  And  we  are  well  assured  if  these  expensive  services, 
for  which  very  little  if  any  advantage  hath  ever  accrued  to  them- 


156  City  Document  No.  88. 

selves,  together  with  the  necessary  Charges  of  supporting  &  de- 
fending his  Majestys  Government  here  had  been  duly  estimated, 
the  Moneys  designd  to  be  drawn  from  us  by  this  Act,  would  have 
appeared  greatly  beyond  our  Proportion.  We  look  upon  it  as  a 
peculiar  hardship,  that  when  the  Representative  Body  of  this 
Province  had  prepared  and  sent  forward  a  [6.">4.]  Decent  Remon- 
strance against  these  Proceedings,  while  ihey  were  depending  in 
the  House  of  Commons,  it  failed  of  admittance  there  :  And  this 
we  esteem  the  more  extraordinary,  in  as  much  as  being  unrepre- 
sented, it  was  the  only  Method  whereby  they  could  make  known 
their  Objections  to  Measures,  in  the  Event  of  which  their  Con- 
tinents were  to  be  so  deeply  interested.  Moreover  this  Act  if 
carried  into  I^xecution,  will  become  a  further  Grieveance  to  us  as 
it  will  afford  a  Precedent  for  the  Parliament  to  Tax  us  in  all 
future  Time,  and  in  all  such  Ways  and  Measures,  as  they  shall 
Judge  meet  without  our  Consent. 

We  therefore  think  it  our  indespensible  Duty  in  Justice  to  our- 
selves and  Posterity,  as  it  is  our  undoubted  Privilege  in  the  most 
open  and  unreserved,  but  decent  and  respectful  Terms  to  declare 
our  greatest  Disatisfaction  with  this  Law  ;  And  we  think  it  incum- 
bent upon  you  by  no  Means  to  Join  in  any  publick  Measures  for 
countenancing  and  assisting  in  the  Execution  of  the  same  :  But  to 
use  your  best  endeavors  in  the  General  Assembly,  to  have  the  In- 
herent unalienable  Rights  of  the  People  of  this  Province,  asserted 
and  vindicated,  and  left  upon  the  publick  Records,  that  Posterity 
may  never  have  reason  to  charge  the  present  Times  with  the  Guilt 
of  tamely  given  them  away. 

It  affords  us  the  Greatest  Satisfaction  to  hear  that  the  Congress 
proposed  by  the  Plouse  of  Representatives  of  .this  Province,  is 
consented  to  by  the  Representatives  of  most  of  the  other  Collonies 
on  the  Continent.  —  We  have  the  warmest  Expectations  from 
the  united  Counsels  of  that  very  respectable  Committee :  And  we 
may  with  the  strictest  Propriety  enjoin  upon  Mr  Otis,  a  Member 
of  the  same,  being  also  one  of  the  Representatives  of  this  Town  to 
contribute  the  utmost  of  his  Abelity,  in  having  the  Rights  of  the 
Colonies  stated  in  the  clearest  vein,  and  laid  before  the  Parliament 
and  in  preparing  a  humble  Petition  to  the  King  our  Sovereign  and 
Father,  under  whose  Gracious  Care  and  Protection,  we  have  the 
strongest  Reason  to  hope,  that  the  Rights  of  the  Colonies  in 
General  &  the  particular  Charter  Rights  of  this  Province  will  be 
confirmed  and  perpetuated.  We  further  Instruct  you  to  take 
particular  Care  that  the  best  ^Economy  may  be  used  in  expending 
the  publick  Moneys,  and  that  no  unaccustomed  Grants  may  be 
made  to  those  who  serve  the  Government  —  And  we  in  general 
recommend  to  your  Care,  that  the  Monies  of  the  Province  drawn 
from  the  Individuals  of  the  People  at  a  Time  when  almost  [655.] 
Every  Avenue  of  our  Trade  is  Obstructed,  may  not  be  applyed  to 
any  other  Purposes,  under  any  Pretence  of  necessary  Contingent 
Charges,  but  what  are  evidently  intended  in  the  Act  for  supplying 
the  Treasury. 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  several  Times,  and  put 
Paragraph  by  Paragraph :  It  was  Voted  unanimously  that  the 
same  be  accepted 


Boston   Town  Kecords,  1765.  157 

On  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  it  was  unanimously.  Voted, 
that, 

The  Honble  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator 
The  Honble  Samuel  Wells  Esq. 
The  Honble  Harrison  Gray  Esq. 
The  Honble  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Mr  Samuel  Adams 
be  a  Committee  to  draw  up  and  transmit  by  the  first  Opportunity, 
to  the  Right  Honourable  General  Conway,  now  oneof'hisMajestys 
principal  Secretarys  of  State,  and  to  Coll°  Isaac  Barre  a  Member 
of  Parliament  several  Addresses,  humbly  expressing  the  sincere 
Thanks  of  this  Metropolis  of  his  Majestys  ancient  and  loyal 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  for  their  noble,  generous,  and 
truly  patriotick  Speeches,  at  the  last  Session  of  Parliament,  in 
iSavor  of  the  Colonies,  their  Rights  and  Privileges  :  And  that  cor- 
rect Copies  of  the  same  be  desired  that  they  may  be  deposited 
among  our  most  precious  Archives.  Also  Voted,  that  those 
Gentlemens  Pictures  as  soon  as  they  can  be  obtained,  be  placed 
in  Faneuil  Hall  as  a  standing  Monument  to  all  Posterity,  of  the 
Virtue  and  Justice  of  our  Benefactors,  and  a  lasting  Proof  of  our 

Gratitude 

Voted,  that  the  Instructions  to  our  Representatives  be  printed 

in  the  Thursdays  News  Papers 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  Given  to 
the  Honble  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for  dis- 
patching the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[666.]  '  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  &  warned  in  Publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Fryday  the  27th  Day  of 
September  1765 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Samuel  Checkley. 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  -         -         -         -     read. 

The  Precept  for  Choosing  One  Representative  in  the  Room  of 
Oxenbridge  Thatcher  Esq.  lately  deceased,  was  read 

Voted,  that  the  Town  will  proceed  to  the  choice  of  a  suitable 
Person  to  Represent  them  at  the  Great  &  General  Court  the  re- 
maining part  of  the  Year  in  the  room  of  the  late  Oxenbridge 
Thatcher  Esq.  deceased 

The  Selectmen  having  declared  to  the  Inhabitants  that  the  Poll 
would  be  closed  at  12  O'Clock,  the  Inhabitants  withdrew  &  brought 
in  their  Votes  for  a  Representative,  and  upon  counting  and  sorting 
them  it  appeared  that  the  number  of  Votes  were  572  of  which  John 
Ruddock  Esq.  had  110  —  John  Roue  Esq.  137 — John  Han- 
cock Esq.  40  —  and  Mr  Samuel  Adams  247  —  there  being  no 
choice  the  Inhabitants  were  desired  to  withdraw  again,  and  bring 
in  their  Votes,  which  being  accordingly  done,  it  was  found  that 

1  [The  original  paging  here  skips  ten.     W.  H.  W.] 


1T>8  City  Document  No.  88. 

the  number  of  Votes  were  448.  and  that  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  had 
265  Votes :  Whereupon  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  the 

said  Mr.  Adams  was  duly  Elected 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  warned  in  publick  Town  Meet- 
ing Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  2d  Day  of  Novem- 
ber A  D  1765 

[667.]     Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -     -     -     read. 

The  Honble  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  that  Measures  may  be 
taken  to  prevent  the  Disorders  that  sometime  happen  at  this 
Season  of  the  Year,  was  read  and  large  debate  had  thereon ;  but 
the  Petitioners  desire  leave  of  the  Town  to  withdraw  their  Peti- 
tion the  Question  was  accordingly  put,  and  passed  in  the  Affer- 
mative. 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Honourable  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting 
for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  warned  in  publick  Town  Meet- 
ing Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Fry  day  the  15th  of  November 
AD  1765 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -    .-     -     read 

The  Honble  Samuel  Wells  Esq.  chosen  Moderator 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant.  Viz*.  "  To  determine  whether  they 
"  will  choose  two  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  present  Year  in  the 
"  room  of  Mr.  Edward  Church  and  Benjamin  Ecles  who  were 
"  chose  in  May  last  but  refuse  to  serve "  and  after  Debate  had 
thereon  the  Question  was  put  .  Viz4.  Whether  two  Collectors 
shall  now  be  chose  in  the  room  of  the  two  who  have  declined 
serving  —  Passed  in  the  Negative ■ 

[668.]  Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  the  Assessors  be  and 
hereby  are  dh'ected  to  deliver  the  Tax  Books  to  the  four  Collecters, 
who  were  chose  at  a  late  Meeting,  they  having  given  Bond  and 
qualified  themselves  as  the  Law  directs 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Honble  Samuel  Wells  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  for 
dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  legal  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of 
the  Town  of  Boston  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  AVednesday  the  18th.  Day 
of  December  Anno  Domini  1765 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -     -     -     read. 

The  Honble  James  Otis  Esq.  chosen  Moderator 


Boston   Town  Records,  1765.  159 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  for  calling  this  Meeting 
was  read,  and  after  Debate  had  thereon 
Voted  unanimously  that 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 

John  Rowe  Esq. 

Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 

John  Hancock  Esq. 

John  Ruddock  Esq. 

Samuel  Sewall  Esq. 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 

Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
[669.]  Be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  sign  and 
present  the  following  Memorial  to  his  Excellency  the  Governor  in 
Council ;  and  that 

Jeremiah  Gridley  Esq. 

James  Otis  Esq. 

John  Adams  Esq. 
be  applyed  to  as  Council  to  appear  in  behalf  of  the  Town  in  sup- 
port of  said  Memorial 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay 
To  His  Excellencv  the  Governor  in  Council 


The  Memorial  of  the  Town  of  Boston  Humbly  Sheweth 

That  your  Memorialists  having  a  Just  Sense  of  the  value  of  the 
British  Constitution  of  Government,  under  which  they  have 
enjoyed  all  the  Blessings  of  Civil  Life,  cannot  but  be  deeply 
affected,  when  the  Channels  through  which  these  Blessings  are 
derived  to  us  are  obstructed ;  which  is  at  present  our  unhappy 
Case.  The  Courts  of  Law  within  the  Province  in  which  alone  Jus- 
tice can  be  distributed  among  the  People,  so  far  as  respects  Civil 
Matters  are  to  all  intents  and  purposes  shut  up,  for  which  your 
Memorialists  apprehend  no  Just  and  legal  Reason  can  be 
Assigned. 

We  have  always  understood  that  the  Law  is  the  great  rule  of 
Right,  the  Security  of  our  Lives  and  Propertys,  and  the  best  Birth 
right  of  Englishmen :  Under  the  Apprehensions  we  make  our 
humble  Applications  to  your  Excellency  in  Council,  with  whom  the 
executive  Power  within  the  Province  is  constitutionally  lodged, 
that  you  would  be  pleased  to  give  such  Directions  to  the  several 
Courts  and  their  Officers,  as  that  under  no  Pretence  whatever,  we 
maybe  any  longer  deprived  of  this  invaluable  Blessing: — And 
your  Memorialists  pray  that  they  may  be  heard  upon  this  most  im- 
portant Subject  by  their  Council  learned  in  Law. 

And  as  in  Dut}7  bound,  they  ever  pray  &c 

Adjourned  to  3  O' Clock  P :  M  : 

3  :  OClock  P  :  M  :  Met  according  to  Adjournment 

[670.]  Voted,  that  the  Cummittee  appointed  to  present  the 
above  Memorial  to  His  Excellency  in  Council,  be  desired  to  do  it 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  that  the  Town  Clerk  acquaint  Jeremiah 
Gridley  Esq.  the  Honblc  James  Otis  Esq.  and  Mr  John  Adams  of 
the  Vote  respecting  their  being  apply'd  to  as  Council  to  appear  in 
behalf  of  the  Town  in  support  of  said  Memorial 

Adjourned  to  SatturJay  next  10  O'C  :  A  :  M  : 


1(50  Crrr  Document  No.  88. 

Saturday   December   21.  1765.    Met   according  to   Adjournm*. 

Mr  Samuel  Adams  Chairman  of  the  Committee  appointed  to 
present  the  Petition  of  the  Town  to  his  Excellency  in  Council  for 
opening  the  Courts  of  Law  within  this  Province  —  Reported  — ■ 
That  they  had  presented  the  same,  and  that  the  Town  had  been 
heard  thereon,  by  their  Council  Appointed  for  that  purpose  ;  and 
that  the  Governor  and  Council  had  the  Subject  Matter  of  the 
Memorial  now  under  consideration.  

Adjourned  to  3  OClock  P :  M  : 

3  O'Clock  P :  M :  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

Mr.  Adams  again  Reported  —  That  the  Honourable  the  Coun- 
cil had  come  into  some  Resolves  relative  to  the  Memorial  of  the 
Town  to  His  Excellency  in  Council,  a  Copy  of  which  had  been 
handed  him  by  the  Deputy  Secretary,  which  Resolves  being  read 
it  was  Voted  that  the  same  be  entred  upon  the  Town  Records  — 

And  they  are  as  follows  Viz'.  

At  a  Council  held  at  the  Council  Chamber  in  Boston  upon  Sat- 
tu relay  the  21st.  Day  of  Decern1".  1765 

The  Board  proceeded  to  the  Consideration  of  the  Memorial  of 
the  Town  of  Boston,  and  came  to  the  following  resolves  — 
Viz4. 

That  a  Question  in  Law  necessarily  arises  from  said  Memorial, 
namely,  Whether  the  Officers  of  the  Courts  of  Law  can  be  justified 
in  proceeding  in  their  respective  Offices  with  unstamp'd  [671.] 
Papers,  and  it  is  thereupon  —  Resolved  that  it  is  the  Business 
of  the  Courts  of  Law  to  determine  Points  of  Law,  nor  can  the 
Board  with  any  propriety  direct  or  advise  the  said  Courts  in  such 
Judgments  or  determination,  and  in  this  point  of  Law,  under  the 
present  state  of  the  Province  the  Board  are  desirous  that  the  said 
Courts  should  be  free  in  their  Judgements,  without  any  apprehen- 
sion of  censure  from  the  Board,  It  is  therefore  further 

Resolved,  that  the  Subject  Matter  of  this  Memorial  is  not  proper 
for  the  determination  of  this  Board  nor  is  it  in  the  power  of  the 
Board  to  afford  relief  in  the  way  and  manner  pray'd  for,  but  the 
Board  recommend  it  to  the  Justices  of  the  Inferior  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  to  determine  the  aforesaid 
Point  of  Law  as  soon  as  may  be,  and  to  the  other  Courts  within 
the  Province  to  determine  it  at  or  before  their  first  respective 
Terms. 

A  true  Copy  Att  Jn°  Cotton  D  Secry. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  —  the  Question  was  put 
Viz'  Whether  the  Town  apprehend  the  above  Resolves  of  Council 
in  consequence  of  their  Memorial  to  His  Excellency,  in  Council  to 
be  satisfactory  —  Passed  in  the  Negative  unanimously 

Adjourned  to  Thursday  next  10  O'Clock  A  :  M  : 

Thursday  December  26th.  1765.     Met  according  to  Adjournment 

The  Town  being  acquainted  by  several  Gentlemen  present,  that 

the  Courts  of  Probate  within  this  Province  would  be  opened;  that 

the  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  had  served  and  was  ready  to 

serve  all  Writts  brought  to  him,  and  that   the  Court  of  Common 


Boston  Town  Records,  1766.  161 

Pleas  for  said  County  next  in  course  to  sit,  would  meet  &  proceed 
to  Business  ;  and  that  Mr  Sheriff  Greanleaff  and  Mr.  William  Mul- 
lineux  could  give  the  Town  further  satisfaction  relative  to  these 
particulars 

It  was  therefore  Voted,  that  Mr.  Sheriff  and  Mr  Mullineux  be 
desired  to  inform  the  Town  respecting  these  Matters  —  Mr.  Sheriff 
accordingly  declared  that  he  had  duly  served  all  the  Wiitts  which 
had  been  given  him  for  service  to  this  Day  And  Mr.  Mullineux 
that  [673.]  Having  discoursed  the  Judges  of  the  Inferior  Court 
he  had  no  reason  to  doubt  but  that  the  aforesaid  Court  would  at 
their  next  Term  proceed  to  Business  as  usual 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  —  Voted  that  when  this 
Meeting  be  Adjourned,  it  shall  be  to  Thursday  the  16th  Day  of 
January  next 

Stephen  Greanleaf  Esq.  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  having 
informed  the  Town  that  he  and  his  Deputy  Mr.  Benjamin  Cudworth 
had  each  of  them  Yesterday  received  a  Letter  tending  to  the  Dis- 
order of  the  Town  which  being  read  at  the  desire  of  the  Town,  it 
was  thereupon 

Voted,  unanimously  that  said  Letters  were  highly  abusive  and 
inflamitery,  and  tending  to  the  distraction  of  all  good  Order  and 
Government ;  that  they  abhor  and  detest  them,  and  that  they  will 
be  at  all  Times  ready  to  assist  the  Civil  Majestrate  and  support 
all  Officers  in  the  execution  of  their  Trust  according  to  the  Laws 
and  usage  of  this  Land,  and  also  properly  to  reward  the  Person 
or  Persons  who  shall  discover  and  detect  the  Author  or  Authors 
of  said  Letters  or  either  of  them  upon  Conviction 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  —  Voted,  unanimously 
That  the  representatives  of  the  Town  be  and  they  hereby  are  In- 
structed and  directed  to  apply  to  his  Excellency  Francis  Bernard 
Esq.  as  soon  as  may  be,  humbly  to  desire  that  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  this  Province  be  not  further  prorogued  

Then  the  Question  was  put  —  Whether  the  Town  would  now 
Adjourn,  which  passed  in  the  Affermative,  and  the  Meeting  was 
accordingly  Adjourned  to  Thursday  the  16th.  of  January  next  3. 
O'Clock  P :  M : 

Thursday  the  16th  of  January  1766.  Met  according  to  Adjourn- 
ment.   

Mr.  Adams  Chairman  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  Liquidate 
[673.]  The  Accounts  of  the  several  Tradesmen  who  repaired 
Faneuil  Hall,  acquainted  the  Town  that  they  were  not  then  pre- 
pared to  make  Report  thereon  — — 

"  Whereas  the  Inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the  County 
together  with  the  Court  of  Probate  is  now  open  and  Business 
going  on  as  visual  — Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Representatives 
of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  Instructed  to  use  their  utmost 
endeavours  with  the  General  Assembly  at  the  present  Session; 
that  Mensures  may  be  taken  that  Justice  be  also  duly  Administred 
in  all  the  Countys  throughout  the  Province  and  that  enquiry  may 
be  made  into  the  Reasons  why  the  Courts  of  Justice  in  the  Prov- 
ince has  been  in  anv  Measure  obstructed 


162  Crrr  Document  No.  88. 

It  is  further  Voted  unanimously,  That  the  Representatives  be 
also  Instructed,  to  use  their  Influence  in  the  General  Assembly 
that  proper  enquiry  may  be  made  into  the  behavior  of  any  Person 
or  Persons  who  by  their  misconduct  have  either  contributed  towards 
the  Difficultys  we  labor  under  respecting  the  Stamp  Act,  or  have 
basely  neglected  to  use  their  upright  and  best  endeavors,  to  re- 
lieve us  from  those  Difficultys  "  

Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Honourable  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting 

for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[674.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  pub- 
lick  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  10th 

Day  of  March  Anno  Domini  17GG 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd  Dr  Chauncy 

"Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -     -     -     read  — 

Sundry  Laws  enjoin'd  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting       -     read 

The  Honble  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this  Meet- 
ing, and  took  the  Oath  respecting  his  paying  and  reciving  Bills  of 
Credit   of   the   Connecticut  New   Hampshire   and    Rhode  Island 

Governments,  as  required  by  an  Act  of  this  Province 

William  Cooper  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  Year  ensuing, 
and  having  taken  the  Oath  respecting  the  Receiving  and  Paying 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments,  took  the  Oath  of  Office 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  Duty,  which  oaths  were  adminis- 

tred  to  him  by  John  Avery  Esq 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  Seven  Selectmen,  and  the 

Votes  being  brought  in  and  sorted  it  appeared  that 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq     -     -     -     -     excused 
Joseph  Jackson  Esq       -     -     -     -     Sworn 
Benjamin  Austin  Esq     -     -     -     -     excused 

Samuel  Sewall  Esq Sworn 

John  Ruddock  Esq   -----         d° 

John  Hancock  Esq d° 

Mr  John  Winslovv excused 

were  chose  Selectmen,  for  the  Year  ensuing 

[675.]     Joshua  Henshaw  &  Benjamin  Austin   Esq"  having 

excused  themselves  from  serving  as  Selectmen  the  Year  ensuing — 

Voted  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 

are  given  to  the  said  Joshua  Henshaw  &  Benjamin  Austin  Esq" 

for  their  faithful  services  as  Selectmen  some  Years  past 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  two  Selectmen  in  the  room 
of  those  Gentlemen  that  had  excused  themselves  from  serving,  and 

upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

William  Phillips  Esq. 
Mr  Timothy  Newell 
were  chose  Selectmen  for  the  Year  ensuing 


Boston  Town  Records,  1766.  163 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Twelve  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  and  upon  sorting  them,  it  appeared  that 
John  Barrett  Esq. 
The  Honble  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
Mr  Beujam'n  Dolbear 
Metatiah  Bourn  Esq 
Isaac  Smith  Esq.     . 
Mr  Jonathan  Mason 
Joseph  Gardner  Esq. 
Mr  William  Whit  well 
Mr  Henderson  Inches 
Capt  Benjamin  Hammett 
Mr  Ebenezer  Storer 

John  Avery  Esq  (excused)  1  chose  Page 
were  chose  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes   for  Twelve  Wardens,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that 

Joseph  Scott  Esq     -     -     -     excused 
Mr  Thomas  Ivers 
[GIG.]  Mr  Thomas  Trott 

Mr  Josiah  Torrey 
Mr  Phillip  Freeman 
Mr  Robert  Gould 
Cap'  Jeremiah  Stimson 
Mr  Samuel  Abbott 
Mr  William  Boardman 
Mr  Neal  MTntyre 
Mr  Benjamin  Phillips 
Mr  Daniel  Parker 
were  chose  Wardens  for  the  Year  ensuing  —  Call  sworn) 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  County  Treasurer  & 
which  were  sealed  up  and  delivered  to  Mr  Constable  Salmon  to  be 

returned  to  the  Court  of  Sessions 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Register  of  Deeds  &c. 
for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  which  were  sealed  up  and  delivered  to 

Mr  Constable  Salmon  to  be  returned  to  the  Court  of  Sessions 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Sixteen  Fire-Wards,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd,  that 

Newman  Grenough.  Esq. 
Joseph  Jackson  Esq.     -     -     -     excused 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Mr.  William  Cooper 

Mr.  Samuel  Austin   -    -     -     -     excused 
Mr.  John  Mico  Wendell 
Thomas  Marshall  Esq. 
William  Homes  Esq. 
Mr.  Joseph  Tyler 
Mr.  Jonathan  Williams 
Cap'.  Adiuo  Paddock 
[677,]       Mr.  James  Richardson 

William  Tayler.  Esq.  -     -     -     (excused) 
Cap4,  William  Downe  Cheever 


164  City  Document  No.  88. 

James  Cunuingbnm.  Esq. 
Cap'.  Benjamin  Waldo 
were  chose  Fire-Wards  for  the  Year  ensuing  —  (all  sworn) 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq.  Mr.  Samuel  Austin  and  William  Tayler  Esq. 
having  excused  themselves  from  serving  the  Town  as  Fire-Wards 

the  Year  ensuing 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  said  Joseph  Jackson,  Samuel  Austin   and  William  Tayler  for 

their  faithful  services  us  Fire- Wards,  some  Years  past 

The  Votes  were  brought  in  for  Town  Treasurer,  and  upon  sort- 
ing them  it  appeard  that  Mr.  David  Jeffries  was  chosen,  and  having 
taken  the  Oath  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving  Bills  of  Credit 
of  the  other  Governments,  took  the  Oath  of  Office  for  the  faithful 
discharge  of  his  Duty,  which  Oaths  were  administred  to  him  by 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  —  the  Question  was  put 
"Whether  Constables  and  Collectors  shall  be  Chose  sepperate  — 

Passed  in  the  Affermative 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Five  Pounds  be  remitted  out  of  the  Ten 
Pounds  Fine,  to  such  Person  as  shall  be  Chose  into  the  Office  of 
Constable  for  the  Year  ensuing,  and  shall  decline  serving. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Twelve  Constables,  the 
Persons  chose  info  that  Office  and  sworn  are 
Mess™.  Augustus  Hail 
Francis  Salmon 
Peter  Barbour 
[678*]  John  Mein 

Hugh  Torbet 
Robert  Gorden 
James  Anderson 
John  Stevenson 
George  Lindsey 
James  Charity 
William  Mc.Alpine 
William  Corbitt     (2  more  hereafter) 
Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  3  O'Clock. 

3  O'Clock  P :  M  :  Met  according  to  Adjournment 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  One  Selectman,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 

John  Rowe  Esq.  sworn 

was  chosen  a  Selectman  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Petition  of  the  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  1765  was  read  and 
after  Debate  had  thereon 

Voted,  that  said  Petitioners  be  and  hereby  are  allowed  the  Sum 
of  Nine  Pence  on  the  Pound  as  a  Premium  on  the  Monys  by  them 
Collected  the  last  Year ;  a  former  Conditional  Vote  notwithstandg. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Nine  Pence  on  the  Pound  be  and  hereby 
is  allowed  to  such  Persons  as  shall  be  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes 
for  the  Year  ensuing,  for  all  such  Sums  as  they  shall  Collect,  pro- 
vided they  pay  into  the  Town  Treasury  one  half  part  of  the  whole 
Sum  they  are  obliged  to  pay  him,  within  four  Months  from  the 
Time  they  receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the  Assessors,  and  the 
other  hall*  part  in  Three  Months  after ;   and  also  pay  into  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1766.  165 

Province  and  County  Treasuries  Oue  half  part  of  the  whole  Sum 
they  shall  be  obliged  to  pay  thern  [679.]  Respectively  in  Sevi  n 
Months  from  the  Time  they  shall  receive  the  Tax  Books  from  the 
Assessors  as  aforesaid,  and  the  other  half  part  in  Five  Mouths 
after  ;  and  in  case  either  of  said  Collectors  shall  fail  paying  in  the 
manner  aforesaid,  the  Collector  so  failing  shall  not  be  entitled  to 
the  aforesaid  Allowance  of  Nine  Pence  on  the  Pound  ;  but  wholly 
forfeit  the  same ;  provided  also  that  each  of  said  Collectors  give 
Bond  with  sufficient  Sureties  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen, 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  Duty  in  said  Office,  and  comply- 
ing with  this  Vote 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  shall  have  a  discretionary  Power  as  to 
the  payment  of  the  Collectors  Premium  for  the  Year  ensuing  any 

former  Vote  notwithstanding 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Four  Collectors  of 
Taxes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 
Jonathan  Pay  son  Esq. 
Mr.  Sampson  Salter 
Mr.  Edward  Hollyday 
Mr.  Samuel  Ruggles.  Junr.     (all  Sworn) 

were  chose  into  that  Office 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Seven  Assessors,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Messrs.  William  Fairfield 
John  Kneeland 
Benjamin  Church 
Belcher  Noyes  Esq. 
Mr.  William  Torrey 
Mr.  Jonathan  Brown 
Mr.  Daniel  Pecker 

were  chose  Assessors  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Petition  of  sundry  Inhabitants  "That  some  Measures  may 
[680.]  Be  taken  for  the  more  effectually  regulating  of  Bakers 
Bread"  was  read  —  After  Debate  had  thereon  it  was  moved  that 
said  Petition  be  dismist,  and  the  Question  being  accordingly  put 

■ — Passed  iu  the  Affermative 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Twelve  Clerks  of  the 
Market,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 

Mess".  John  Welch      -  excused 

Paul  Revear      -  d°. 

Adam  Colson    -  Sworn 

Thomas  Crafts  -  excused 

James  Thompson       -  sworn 

Bartho.  Kneeland      -  d°. 

Joseph  Webb    -  d°. 

John  Lovel        ...         -  d°. 

Nicholas  Bowes  ...         excused 

Elisha  Eaton     -  d°. 

Thomas  Symms  ...         Sworn 

Robert  Jenkins  Tertius       -         -  d°. 

were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing  —  5  more 

Mr.  John  Gray 


106  City  Document  No.  88. 

was  chosen  Surveyor  of  Hemp  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mess™.  William  Nichols 

Andrew  Symms 

Clement  Collins 

Henry  Allen 

Isaac  Vergoose 

John  Grenough 

Jacob  Thayer 

Joseph  Edmunds 

John  Skillins 
[681.]  John  Sergeant 

Richard  Walker  Mem.  all  sworn. 

John  Champney 
were  chose  Surveyers  of  Boards  and  Shingles  for  the  Year  ensu 
ing— — 

Messrs.  Samuel  Dyer  sworn 

John  Dyer 

Obediah  Low 

John  Joy  sworn 

William  Crafts  d°. 

were  chose  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess".  Ebenezer  MMntosh 

Samuel  Bangs 

William  Andrews 

John  Shepherd 

William  Stevenson 
were  chose  Sealers  of  Leather  for  the  Year  ensuing,  &  all  sworn 
Mess™.  Nathaniel  Gardner 

Samuel  Whitwell 
were  chose  Informers  of  Deer  for  the  Year  ensuing  — 
Mess1, 


[683.] 


Peter  Cotta 

Sworn 

Manesseh  Masters 

d°. 

Joseph  Dyer 
John  Harskins 

d°. 

David  Spear 
Nathan  Spear 

Jonathan  Jenkins 

Samuel  Treat 

Robert  Brick  Junr. 

Job  Wheelwright 

Joshua  Pico 

Benjamin  Salt  - 

Sworn 

Paul  Baxter 

John  Owen 

Thomas  Knox 

Samuel  White  - 

d°. 

Edward  Cowell 

d°. 

Edward  Potter  - 

d°. 

Peter  Ellis 

d°. 

Timothy  Pease  - 
Robert  Treat     - 

d°. 
d°. 

Nathaniel  Waterman 

d°. 

Jacob  Williams 

d°. 

Boston  Town  Records,  1766.  167 

were  chose  Cullers  of  Staves  &c.  for  Year  ensuing 

Mess".  David  Simens 

Thomas  Curtis sworn 

were  chose  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mr.  Edward  Curtis      -         -  d°. 

was  chosen  Hay  ward  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mess".  Benjamin  Edes 

Thomas  Chase  -  Sworn 

Benjamin  llomans  d°. 

William  Rogers  d°. 

Jolly  Allen  d°. 

John  Adams  d°. 

Nathaniel  Cobbet  d°. 

Jeremy  Webb  d°. 

Andrew  Boardman  d°. 

Eobert  Williams  d°. 

[683.]  Clement  Jackson 

Daniel  Eveleigh 

were  chose  Scavingers  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Selectmen 

were  chose  Surveyors  of  High  Ways  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mess".  John  Green  and  David  Wheeler  having  at  their  own  cost 
and  charge,  built  and  compleated  a  Fire  Engine,  which  upon  tryal 
does  honor  to  the  Country  as  well  as  the  Constructors ;  the  use 
thereof  on  all  occasions  by  means  of  Fire  that  may  happen  they 
now  offer  the  Town,  provided  they  will  keep  the  same  in  good  re- 
pair, and  allow  the  Men  belonging  thereto,  the  Exemptions  and 
Privileges  indulged  the  other  Engine-Men  —  It  is  therefore  Voted 
that  the  Town  do  accept  of  the  said  generous  proposal,  and 
that  the  said  Muster  and  Men  when  approved  by  the  Selectmen, 
be  and  hereby  are  excused  and  exempted  from  all  such  Duty,  and 
Entitled  to  all  such  Privileges  and  Allowances,  as  are  the  other 
Engine  Men,  and  this  so  long  as  the  Town  shall  be  obliged  and 
served  with  the  use  of  said  Engine 
Voted  that  Mess".  John  Muffatt 

Ezekiel  Price 

Thomas  Gray 

John  Boylston 

Nicholas  Boylston 
be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the 
Accounts  of  Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries,  and  also  the  Accounts  of  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  the  said  Committee  are  injoin'd  to  inspect 
every  particular  Account  of  the  Moneys  expended  for  the  use  of  the 
Alms  house  ;  the}*  are  also  impowered  when  they  shall  Audit  said 
Accompts,  to  allow  such  of  the  Overseers  as  shall  advance  Moneys 
for  the  relief  of  the  Poor,  Interest  on  all  such  Sums  from  the  Time 

so  Advanced,  till  they  shall  have  Audited  said  Accompts 

[684.]  The  Selectmen  Reported  on  the  Accompt  of  Mr  John 
Fenno  Keeper  of  the  Granary  for  the  Year  past,  which  Accompt  as 
entred  in  his  Books  (and  on  File  in  the  Town  Clerks  Office)  was 
read  —  whereupon  it  was  Voted,  that  the  same  be  accepted,  and 
that  Mr.  Fenno  be  accountable  to  the  Town  for  300  Bushels  of 


168  City  Document  No.  88. 

Indian  Corn  and  forty  Bushels  of  Rye  Meal  amounting  to 
£51  ,,  13  ,,  4  and  also  for  the  Sum  of  £273  ,,  18  ,,  1£  Cash  now 
in  his  Hands,  exclusive  of  the  Sum  of  £26  ,,  13  ,,  4  for  his  Salary 
and   Assistance,    as   charged    in   his   Accompt   which    is    hereby 

allowed  him 

William  Phillips  Esq. 
Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 
William  Homes  Esq. 
were  chose  Purchasers  of  Grain  for  the  Year  ensuing;  and  they 
are  desired  and  impowered  to  give  all  needful  Directions  to  the 
Keeper  of  the  Granary  respecting  the  Quantity  of  Grain  to  be 

sold  and  affixing  the  price  thereof  from  Time  to  Time 

Mess"  Martin  Gay 
John  Skinner 
were  chose  Assay  Masters  for  the  Year  ensuing 
John  Tuder  Esq. 
Mr.  John  White 

were  chose  Surveyers  of  Wheat  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted  that  the  Consideration  of  Schoolmasters  Salarys  and  all 
other  Salarys  and  Grants,  be  referred  to  next  May  Meeting. 
Adjourned  to  Tuesday  Morning  10.  O'Clock.  A  M : 

Tuesday  Morning  10  O'Clock  A  :  M  :  Met  according  to  Adjourn- 
ment   

[685.]  A  Letter  from  the  Town  of  Plymouth  directed  to  the 
Town  Clerk  of  Boston  in  order  to  be  laid  before  the  Town  at  their 
present  Meeting  was  according!}-  laid  before  them,  and  is  as  fol- 
lows — Vizt 

To  the  Respectable  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
Gentlemen 

At  a  Time  when  the  Rights  and  Liberties  of  this  Country  are 
invaded,  and  the  Inhabitants  threatned  with  the  Loss  of  every 
Thing  that  is  dear  to  them,  when  they  are  embarrassed  with  every 
distress  that  is  the  never  failing  consequence  of  Slavery  and  Pov- 
erty, no  Man  of  Society  of  Men,  who  are  Sharers  in  the  common 
Calamity  (unless  totally  destitute  of  every  Spark  of  Public  Virtue 
and  Patriotism)  can  remain  unfealing  and  inactive  Spectators,  but 
must  be  ready  on  all  Occasions  to  bless  the  Hearts  which  feel,  and 
the  Hands  that  exert  themselves  to  avert  the  Evils  threatned,  and 
to  restore  that  happiness  which  constantly  attends  the  full  Enjoy- 
ment of  Natural  and  Constitutional  Ivights  and  Liberties 

We  therefore  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Plymouth,  ani- 
mated with  a  Spirit  of  publick  Virtue  and  Love  of  our  Country,  as 
well  as  Gratitude  to  all  our  Benefactors,  and  more  especially  to 
such  as  have  distinguished  themselves  in  the  Common  Cause  of 
their  Country  in  this  Day  of  Distress  and  Difficulty,  and  being  As- 
sembled in  Town  Meetiug  for  that  purpose,  as  a  publick  Testimony 
of  our  Esteem  and  Gratitude,  beg  you  to  accept  our  united  and 
general  Thanks  for  the  invariable  Attachment  you  have  on  all  Oc- 
casions and  particularly  the  present  shown  to  the  Principles  of 
Libert}*,  and  for  the  vigorous  Exertions  of  your  Loy:d  a::d  Legal 
Endeavours  to  secure  to  our  Country  the  nninterrnpfr  d  Lnjoyment 


Boston   Town  Kecords,  1766.  169 

of  that  Blessing,  &.  to  transmit  the  same  intire  and  perfect  to  the 
latest  Poterity — Instances  of  this  much  to  your  Honor  and  the 
Interest  of  your  Country,  Distinguish'd  by  the  unerring  Marks  of 
Disinterestedness  and  Generosity  crowd  upon  our  Minds  on  this 
Occasion  :  But  to  avoid  1  he  imputation  of  Prolixity  permit  us  to 
single  out  a  few  which  are  recent,  and  must  readily  occur  to  every 
one  Mind,  and  which  are  sufficient  of  themselves  to  Justify  our 
Sentiments  and  merit  the  Gratitude  of  every  Well-wisher  to  his 
Country. 

[086.]  The  new  Regulations  with  Regard  to  Mourning  which 
has  not  only  saved  this  Country,  a  great  and  needless  Expence, 
and  in  a  manner  abolished  a  rediculous  Pagentry,  but  produced 
Consequences  in  our  Mother  Country  very  beneficial  to  us  ;  and  all 
principally  at  your  Expence,  as  your  Merchants  were  the  principal 
Importers  and  Venders  of  those  Articles  ;  A  Measure  which  at  the 
same  Time  that  it  reflects  a  Lustre  upon  your  Conduct  shews  by 
the  Success  of  it,  that  the  People  of  this  Country  have  Virtue 
enough  to  prefer  its  Interests  to  any  Fashion  that  may  stand  in 
compition  with  it,  however  establish'd  by  long  Custom  and  very 
particular  Prejudices 

The  Opposition  you  have  at  all  Times  made,  both  to  the  Forreign 
&  Domestick  Invasion  of  our  Rights  ;  and  particular  the  Legal  & 
Warrantable  Measures  you  have  taken  to  prevent  the  Execution  of 
the  Stamp  Act  in  this  Province 

The  Spirited  and  noble  Application  you  have  made  to  have  the 
Custom  Houses  and  Courts  of  Justice  opened  in  this  Province 
upon  which  our  wellfare  Peace  and  Tranquility  so  much 
depend  

The  Testimony  }rou  have  from  first  to  last  born  against  and  the 
abhorrence  you  have  expressed  of  all  outrageous  Tumults  and 
Illegal  proceedings,  and  their  Consequences,  and  the  Measures 
very  early  taken  to  restore  Tranquility,  and  the  security  of  Prop- 
erty in  your  Town,  the  Capital  of  this  Province;  and  the  good 
Example  thereby  given  to  the  other  Towns  of  that  love  of  Peace 
and  good  order  which  influenced  you,  and  which  we  think  sufficient 
to  destroy  all  those  injurious  reflections  the  work  of  some  Peoples 
Imaginations  ;  and  from  which  they  affect  to  draw  Consequences 
not  only  disadvantageous  to  you,  but  to  the  whole  Country. 

To  conclude,  that  you  and  your  Posterity  may  ever  be  possessed 
of  the  full  Enjoyment  of  that  Liberty  you  have  so  laudably 
asserted,  and  contended  for ;  that  your  Trade  and  Commerce  the 
Source  of  Uiches  and  Oppulence  to  this  Country,  maybe  extended 
and  flourish  ;  that  you  may  ever  continue  to  deserve  and  have  the 
Justice  done  you  to  be  possessed  of  the  Love  and  Esteem  of  your 
Fellow  Country  Men  who  renouncing  that  Solecism  in  Politicks, 
which  arise  from  an  unnatural  Distinction  between  Landed  and 
Commercial  Interests  shall  exert  themselves  to  encourage  your 
Hearts  [687.]  And  strengthen  your  Hands  are  the  sincere 
Wishes  and  ardent  Prayers  of  your  Fellow  Subjects  to  the  best  of 
Kings,  your  Fellow  Sufferers  in  the  Calamitys  of  this  Country,  and 
your  Fellow  Labourers  in  the  Vine  Yard  of  Liberty 

The  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  op  Plymouth. 


170  City  Document  No.  88. 

The  Town  having  Considered  of  the  Subject  Matter  of  the  above 
Letter,  it  was  Voted,  that  Mr  Samuel  Adams 

John  Ruddock  Esq. 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  draw  up  a  Letter  of  Thanks  to  the  Town  of 
Plymouth. 

That  Article  of  the  Wan-ant  Viz'  "  To  consider  of  a  Proposal  of 
the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  that  the  Towns  Land  North  of  the 
Almshouse  may  be  improved  for  the  use  of  said  House  "  was  read, 
and  the  Question  being  put —  Whether  said  Land  shall  be  im- 
proved by  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  use  of  the  Alms- 
house —  Passed  in  the  Affermative 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded — Voted,  that  the  Select- 
men be  desired  to  Examine  the  Claims  of  those  Persons  that  dis- 
pute the  Towns  Tittle  to  part  of  the  Land  near  the  Almshouse  ; 
and  that  they  endeavor  for  an  amicable  Settlement  of  any  such 
dispute. 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz1  —  "  To  consider  what  is 
proper  to  be  done  relative  to  Land  near  the  South  Market,  the 
use  of  which  was  granted  to  Cap'  Theophilus  Frary,  His  Heirs  &° 
for  Seventy  Years  from  the  Year  169o — which  is  now  in  the 
Occupation  of  Mr  Robert  Hews"  —  was  read,  whereupon  Voted, 
that  this  Matter  be  left  to  the  considei-ation  of  the  Selectmen,  who 
are  desired  to  Report  at  the  Adjournment 

The  Petition  of  sundry  Inhabitants  for  paving  Bear  Lane  was 
read,  —  after  debate  had  thereon 

Voted,  that  the  Town  will  pay  One  third  part  of  the  Expence 
of  paving  said  Lane  when  compleated  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
Selectmen 

[688.]  The  Petition  of  John  Child  late  Sealer  of  Leather 
"  that  he  may  be  Reimbursed  by  the  Town  the  Charges  incurred 
by  sustaining  several  Suits  at  Law  on  Account  of  Shoes  seized  by 
him  &c "  was  read  —  and  after  debate  had  thereon. 

Voted,  that  the  said  Mr  Child's  Loss  be  made  good  by  the  Town, 
after  his  Accompts  shall  be  Examined,  and  properly  Liquidated 
by  the  Selectmen 

Voted,  that  the  Assessoi-s  be  and  hereby  are  impowered  and 
directed  to  set  for  the  Abatement  of  such  Taxes  as  they  shall 
Judge  reasonable  on  every  Thursday  till  the  first  Thursday  in 
April  inclusive  and  no  longer,  saving  that  they  be  allowed  to  set 
the  two  last  Weeks  in  November  for  the  Abatement  of  the  Taxes 
of  such  Persons  as  had  not  an  Opportunity  of  applying  on  the 
above  limitted  Time,  by  reason  of  their  being  out  of  the  Province ; 
at  which  Time  they  are  also  allowed  &  impowered  to  abate  the 
Taxes  of  such  Persons  as  may  have  died  Insolvent  or  become 
Bankrupts  between  the  said  last  Thursday  in  April  and  the  last 
Day  of  November 

The  Committee  Appointed  the  l*th  of  September  last  to  Liqui- 
date the  Accompts  of  tl  e  several  Tradesmen  concerned  in  the 
Repairs  of  Faneuil  Hall  -  -  -  Reported  —  That  having  care- 
fully Examined  the  following  Accompts  they  are  of  Opinion  that 
they  are  Just  and  reasonaole.  and  the  several  Persons  are  at  this 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  1766.  171 

Time  Entitled  to  the  Payment  of   their  Respective  Demands  — 
Viz'. 

Onesiphorus  Tileston  Esq. 

Mr.  Samuel  Ruggles   --------- 

Mr.  Temple  Decoster - 

Thomas  Dawes  Esq. -     -     - 

Mr.  James  Orr  ----------- 

Mr.  Josiah  Waters  ---------- 

Mr.  Edward  Winter 

Mr.  Moses  Pitcher  ---------- 

[689.]     Mr.  Joseph  Shed - 

Mr.  Timothy  Thornton     -------- 

Thomas  Drowne     ---------- 

Mr.  John  McLean 

Isaac  Greenwood   ---------- 

£2963  „    2  „  4| 

Besides  which  there  is  an  Accompt  of  Mr. 

Henry  Christian  Geyer  amount8  to  £173  ,,    4  ,,  1 

Of  Mr.  Ebenezer  Messinger       -     -      48  ,,  —  ,,  — 

Of  which  the  Committee  have  not  had 

Opportunity  of  being  satisfied 

And  John  Scollay  Esq.  his  Accompt  387  ,,  17 


£1287  „  6  , 

,  2 

451  „  14  , 

,  6 

319  „  17  , 

,  3 

337  „  14  , 

,  9 

48  „  19  , 

,2* 

170,,-, 

,  7 

40  „  10  , 

,  9 

130  ,,  10  , 

,  4 

42  „  4, 

>o* 

32  „  14  , 

,  8 

12  „  18  , 

.&* 

82  „  6  , 

,8 

6„  5, 

,  — 

609 


£3572  „    3  „  8 


Which  being  already  fully  discharged  the  Committee  did  not 
take  under  their  Consideration 

After  Debate  had  upon  the  above  Report,  it  was  Voted  that  the 
same  be  accepted 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  That  the  Trades- 
men concerned  in  the  Repairs  of  Faneuil  Hall,  shall  for  the 
amount  of  that  part  of  said  Repairs,  which  is  not  included  in  their 
Contract  with  the  Town,  have  their  Drafts  on  the  Treasury  for 
the  respective  Sums  due  to  them,  and  that  they  be  allowed  Inter- 
est thereon  from  the  Date  of  said  Drafts  untill  the  Time  of  Pay- 
ment. —  It  was  further  Voted,  that  what  appears  to  be  now  due 
to  the  several  Tradesmen  to  balance  their  Accompts,  they  shall 
receive  Interest  for,  and  that  the  Moneys  arising  from  the  Rents 
of  Kaneuil  Hall  Market,  shall  be  appropriated  to  the  discharge  of 
the  Principal  and  Interest  of  said  Debts,  untill  the  whole  be  paid 
by  the  Mony  raised  by  Lotter}rs,  and  by  the  Income  of  said 
Market. 

Voted,  that  the  Committee  Appointed  to  Liquidate  said  Trades- 
mens  Accompts  be  desired  to  compleat  the  Business,  by  Liquidat- 
ing such  of  those  Accompts  ;is  were  omitted ;  Their  Report  to  be 
laid  before  the  Town  at  their  Adjournment,  and  that  Mr.  Edward 
Payne  be  added  to  [690.]  Said  Committee  in  the  room  of  John 
Rowe  Esq.  who  declines  serving. 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz'  —  "  To  consider  of  the  Desire 
of  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants  that  some  Agreement  may  become 


172  City  Document  No.  88. 

into  not  to  purchase  any  Lamb  before  a  particular  Time  affixed  by 

the  Town  "  was  read  —  whereupon 

Voted,  that  Mr.  Nathaniel  Holmes 

Samuel  Swift  Esq. 

Mr.  Samuel  Dcmming 

Mr.  John  Pidgeon 

Mr.  Joseph  Belknap 

Cap*.  Daniel  Malcomb 

Mr.  Robert  Peirpoint 

Mr.  John  Ruggles 

Thomas  Daws  Esq. 

Thomas  Marshall  Esq. 

Mr.  John  Ballard 

Mr.  John  Mico  Wendell 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee   to  draw  up  such  an 
Agreement  as  the  Petitioners  desire,  and  to  procure  Subscriptions 

accordingly 

Adjourned  to  Monday  24th.   Instant  10  O'Clock  A :  M  : 

Monday  March  24th.  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

Mess"  John  Simkins  --------     Sworn 

James  Bridgham  d°. 

Benjamin  Peirpoint 

Jonas  Clarke       --------     d°. 

Ziphion  Thayer d°. 

were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing 

John   Avery   Esq.    chosen   an   Overseer  of   the  Poor,    having 
[691.]  Been  excused  from  serving  in  that  Office. 

Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  the  said  John  Avery  Esq.  for  his  faithful  services  as 

an  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  the  last  Year 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  one  Warden,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

John  Leveret  Esq. 
was  chosen  a  Warden  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Three  Fire- Wards,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeard,  that 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams     -----     Sworn 

Mr.  Francis  Shaw d°. 

were  chose  Fire  Wards  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for'  One  Overseer  of  the  Poor 
and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd,  that, 

Mr.  William  Greanleaff 

was  chosen  an  Overseer  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Committee  appointed  to  make  answer  to  the  Letter  from 

the  Town  of  Plymouth,  Reported  the  following  Draft 

To  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Plymouth 
Gentlemen 

The  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  assembled 
in  Faneuil  Hall  have  received  with  singular  pleasure,  your  respect- 
ful Address  of  the  16th.  of  January  last :  The  warm  Sentiments 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  1766.  173 

of  public  Virtue  which  you  therein  express  is  a  sufficient  Eviden-e, 
that  the  most  ancient  Town  in  New  England  to  whose  Predeces- 
sors this  Province  in  a  particular  manner  is  so  greatly  indebted 
for  their  necessary  Aids  in  its  original  [692.]  Settlement  still 
retain  the  truly  noble  Spirit  of  our  renowned  Ancestors  —  When 
we  recollect  the  ardent  love  of  Religeon  and  Liberty,  which  in- 
spired the  Breasts  of  those  Worthys  ;  which  induced  them  at  the 
Time  wheu  Tyrann}T  had  laid  its  oppressive  Hand  on  Church  and 
State  in  their  Native  Country,  to  forsake  their  fair  Possessions 
and  seek  a  Retreat  in  this  distant  Part  of  the  Earth  —  When 
we  reflect  upon  their  early  care  to  lay  a  soiled  Foundation  for 
Learning,  even  in  a  Wilderness,  as  the  surest  if  not  the  only 
Means  of  preserving  and  cherishing  the  Principles  of  Liberty 
and  Virtue,  and  transmitting  them  to  us  their  Posterity,  our 
Mind  is  filled    with   deep  Veneration,  and   we   bless  and  revere 

their  Memory. 

When  we  consider  the  immense  Cost  and  Pains  they  were  at  in 
subduing,  cultivating,  and  settling  this  Land,  with  the  utmost 
Peril  of  their  Lives  ;  and  the  Surprizing  increase  of  Dominion 
Strength  and  Riches,  which  has  accrued  to  Great  Britian  by  their 
Expcnce  &  Labour  we  confess  we  feel  an  honest  Indignation  to 
think  there  ever  should  have  been  any  among  her  Sons,  so  un- 
grateful as  well  as  unjust  and  Cruel  as  to  seek  their  Ruin 

Instances  of  this  too  frequently  occur  in  the  past  Histo^  of  our 
Country:  The  Names  of  Randolph,  of  Andross  and  others  are 
handed  down  to  us  with  Infamy  ;  And  the  Times  in  which  we  live, 
even  these  very  Times,  may  furnish  some  future  Historian  with  a 
Catalogue  of  those,  who  look  upon  our  rising  Greatness  with  an 
envious  Eye  ;  and  while  we  and  our  Sister  Colonies,  have  been 
exerting  our  growing  Strength  in  the  most  substantial  services  to 
the  Mother  Country,  by  Art  and  Intrigue  have  wickedly  attempted 
to  deceive  her  into  Measures  to  enslave  us  —  If  then  Gentlemen, 
the  Inhabitants  of  this  Metropolis,  have  discovered  an  invariable 
Attachment  to  the  Principles  of  Liberty,  when  it  has  been  invaded  : 
If  they  have  made  the  most  vigorous  Exertions  for  our  Country 
when  she  has  been  threatned  with  the  Loss  of  every  Thing  that 
has  been  dear :  If  they  have  used  their  utmost  Endeavors  that 
she  may  be  relieved  from  those  Difficulties,  with  which  She  is  at 
this  Time  embarrassed  ;  If  they  have  taken  the  Legal  and  war- 
rantable Measures  to  prevent  that  [693.]  Misfortune  of  all 
others  the  most  to  be  dreaded,  the  Execution  of  the  Stamp  Act; 
and  as  a  ueccssar}-  Means  of  preventing  it,  have  made  any  Spirited 
Applications  for  opening  the  Custom  House  and  Courts  of  Justice  ; 
If  at  the  same  Time  they  have  bore  their  Testimony  against  out- 
rageous Tumults  and  illegal  proceedings,  and  given  any  Example 
of  the  Love  of  Peace  &  good  order  next  to  the  consciousness  of 
having  done  their  Duty  is  the  Satisfaction  of  meeting  with  the 

Approbation  of  any  of  their  Fellow  Countrymen 

That  the  Spirit  of  our  venerable  Forefathers,  may  revive  and 
be  defused  through  every  Community  in  this  Land :  That  Liberty 
Civil  and  Religeous,  the  grand  Object  of  their  View,  may  still  be 
felt  enjoy'd  &  vindicated  by  the  present  Generation,  and  the  fair 


174  City  Document  No.  88. 

Inheritance,  transmitted  to  our  latest  Posterity,  is  the  fervent  wish 

of  the  Metropolis  —  Submitted  by 

Samuel  Adams 
John  Ruddock 
Joun  Hancock 

Voted,  that  the  same  be  accepted,  and  that  the  Town  Clerk  be 
&  he  hereby  is  directed  to  transmit  as  soon  as  may  be  to  the  Town 
Clerk  of  Plymouth,  a  fair  attested  Copy  thereof,  in  order  to  its 
being  laid  before  said  Town  ;  and  that  the  same  be  published  in 
the  Publick  Prints 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that  there  be  two 
Persons  chose  as  Constables  for  this  Town  in  addition  to  the 
twelve  already  chose  and  sworn  into  that  Office 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  two  Constables,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 

Mess".  Abiel  Ruddock     -  Excused 

James  Thomas      -  d°. 

were  chose  Constables 

Mess"  Benjamin  Clark 
John  Kilbey 
were  chose  Constables  for  the  Year  ensuing 

[694.]  Mr.  Samuel  Turner 

was  chose  a  Surveyor  of  Boards  for  the  Year  ensuing 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  that  the  Town  reconsider  their 
Vote  relative  to  Mr.  Childs  Petition,  and  after  some  Debate  had 
thereon  it  was  Voted,  that  this  Motion  be  taken  up  and  considered 
at  the  next  General  Town  Meeting 

The  Representatives  of  the  Town  having  expressed  their  Desire 
of  being  Instructed  by  their  Constituents  relative  to  the  expe- 
diency of  a  Repeal  or  amendment  of  the  Bankrupt  Act,  the  Con- 
sideration of  which  is  to  come  before  the  General  Court  at  their 
next  Session  —  It  was 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  warn  a  Meeting  of  the 
Inhabitants  that  the  Sense  of  the  Town  may  be  taken  respecting 
this  Matter,  if  it  should  appear  to  them  that  the  General  Assem- 
bly is  like  to  meet  at  the  Time  to  which  they  stand  Adjourned ;  or 
in  case  of  a  dissolution  of  the  Court,  that  they  have  an  Article  in 
the  Warrant  for  nest  May  Meeting  for  this  special  purpose 

Voted  that  all  Matters  and  Things  that  remain  unfinish'd  at 
this  Meeting  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  General  Town 
Meeting  in  May  next,  to  be  then  considered  of  and  acted  upon 

Voted,  unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  the  Honourable  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of 
this  Meeting,  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


A  considerable  Number  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  Assem- 
bled at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Tuesday  the  lBt.  Day  of  April  Anno : 
Domini  1766 

The  Honourable  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  the 

Meeting  — ■ — 


Boston   Town  Records,  1766.  175 

The  Moderator  then  acquainted  the  Assembly,  that  the  prob- 
ability of  very  soon  receiving  authentic  Accounts  of  the  absolute 
Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act.  had  occasioned  the  present  Meeting ; 
and  as  this  would  be  an  Event  in  which  the  Inhabitants  of  this 
Metropolis,  as  well  as  all  North  America,  would  have  the  greatest 
Occasion  of  Joy,  it  was  thought  expedient  by  many,  that  this 
Meeting  should  come  into  Measures  for  fixing  the  Time  when 
those  Rejoicings  should  be  made,  and  the  manner  in  which  they 
should  be  conducted  —  whereupon  it  was 

Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be  desired  when  they  shall  hear  the 
certain  News  of  the  Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act.  to  fix  upon  a  Time 
for  general  Rejoicings  ;  and  that  they  give  the  Inhabitants  season- 
able Notice  in  such  Manner  as  they  shall  think  best 

Then  the  Meeting:  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  Publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  21st.  Da,y  of 
April  Anno  Domini.  1766  

The  Honourable  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of 
[696.]  This  Meeting,  and  took  the  Oaths  required  by  an  Act 
of  this  Province 

After  the  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  had  been  read  — 
Some  Resolves  of  the  House  of  Commons  relative  to  American 
Affairs,  as  also  sundry  Extracts  from  late  Letters  received  from 
England  were  also  read 

After  which  the  Town  took  into  consideration  the  Article  in  the 
Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting.  (Viz1)  To  agree  on  such  Meas- 
ures of  Conduct  as  may  be  proper  when  we  shall  receive  certain 
advice  of  the  Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  —  whereup 

Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be  desired  when  they  shall  have  a 
certain  account  of  the  Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  to  Notify  the  In- 
habitants of  the  Time  they  shall  fix  upon  for  the  general  Rejoic- 
ings &  to  publish  the  following  Vote  —  Viz'. 

Under  the  deepest  Sense  of  Duty  and  Loyalty  to  our  most 
gracious  Sovereign  King  George,  and  in  respect  and  Gratitude  to 
the  present  Patriotick  Ministry,  Mr.  Pitt,  and  the  Glorious  Major- 
ity of  both  Housee  of  Parliament,  by  whose  Influence  under 
Divine  Providence  against  a  most  strenuous  Opposition,  a  happy 
Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  so  unconstitutional  as  well  as  grievous 
to  his  Majestys  good  Subjects  of  America  is  attained,  whereby 
our  incontestable  Right  of  Internal  Taxation  still  remains  to  us 
inviolate  —  Voted,  that  at  the  Time  the  Selectmen  shall  ap- 
point, every  Inhabitant  be  desired  to  Illuminate  his  Dwelling 
House,  and  that  it  is  the  Sense  of  the  Town,  that  the  Houses  of 
of  the  Poor,  as  well  as  those  where  there  are  sick  Persons  and  all 
such  parts  of  Houses  as  are  used  for  Stores  together  with  the 
Houses  of  those  (if  there  are  any)  who  from  certain  Religeous 
Scruples  cannot  conform  to  this  Vote,  ought  to  be  protected  from 
all  Injury  ;  and  that  all  Abuses  and  Disorders  on  the  Evening  for 


176  City  Document  No.  88. 

Rejoycings  by  breaking  "Windows,   or  otherwise,  if   any  should 
happen,  be  prosecuted  by  the  Town 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  Voted  unanimously,  [607.] 
That  the  Majestrates  of  the  Town  ;  The  Selectmen  ;  Fire- Wards  ; 
Constables  and  Engine  Men,  be  desired  to  use  their  utmost 
Endeavours  to  prevent  any  Bone-Fires  being  made  in  any  part  of 
this  Town,  also  the  throwing  of  Rockets,  Squibs,  and  other  Fire 
"Works  in  any  of  the  Streets  of  said  Town  except  the  Time  that 
shall  be  appointed  for  general  Rejoicings,  and  that  the  Inhabitants 
be  desired  for  the  present  to  restrain  their  Children  and  Servants 
from  going  abroad  on  Evenings 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  That  for  the  Security 
of  the  Powder  House  on  the  Night  of  general  Rejoicings  the  Select- 
men be  desired  to  Order  two  of  the  Fire  Engines  into  the  Common 
to  be  placed  near  said  Magazine  ;  and  that  the  Roof  thereof  be 
well  wet ;  and  that  the  Air  Holes  be  stop't  with  Mortar  and  Brick 
or  otherwise  as  they  may  Judge  proper 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that 
The  llonble.  John  Erving  Esq. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
The  Honble.  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  take  into  Considera- 
tion and  Report  at  May  Meeting,  what  they  think  may  be  further 
necessary  for  the  Town  to  do,  in  order  to  testify  their  Gratitude  to 
those  Patriots  on  the  other  side  of  the  Water  to  whose  Endeavors 
it  is  owing  that  the  Liberties  of  America  are  secured,  and  Love 
and  Harmony  between  his  Majestys  Subjects  in  Great  Britain  and 
the  Colonies,  is  perpetuated,  by  the  happy  Repeal  of  the  Stamp 
Act 

Voted,  unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
[698.]  are  given  to  the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of 
this  Meeting  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting-  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Tuesday  the  6th.  Day  of 
May  Anno  Domini.  1766 


Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Mr.  Pemberton 

The  Precept  and  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  -  -  read 

Sundry  Laws Read 

Coll0.  Joseph  Jackson  Esq.  one  of  the  Selectmen  proposed  in 
their  Name  to  the  Inhabitants  Assembled  to  proceed  to  the  choice 
of  one  or  more  Persons  to  Represent  them  in  the  Great  and 
General  Court  or  Assembly  to  be  held  at  Boston  upon  Wednesday 
the  28th.  Day  of  May  Current ;  and  in  order  thereto  to  consider 


Boston  Town  Records,  1766.  177 

and  ascertain  the  number  of  Gentlemen  to  be  Elected  ;  accordingly 
it  was  Voted  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of  Four  Representatives,  and 
then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen,  that  no  Votes  will  be  re- 
ceived but  such  as  are  unfolded,  &  that  they  propose  the  Poll  shall 
be  closed  at  12  O'Clock 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  the  Number  of  Votes  were  found  to 
be  746,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that  the  Four  following 
Gentlemen  were  chose  —  Viz'. 

[699.]         The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.     -     -     -     -     642 

Thomas  Cushing  Esq.     ------     676 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams    -------691 

John  Hancock  Esq.    -------437 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over,  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen,  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw,  and  bring 
in  their  Votes  for  a  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  in  order  that  the 
Town  may  proceed  in  transacting  the  other  Affairs  mentioned  in 
the  Warrant ;  accordingly  the  Inhabitants  withdrew,  and  brought 
in  their  Votes  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared,  that. the  Honble. 
James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen 

Mr.  Thomas  Gray  having  excused  himself  from  serving  as  a 
Representative,  Voted  unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town 
be  and  hereby  are  given  to  the  said  Gentleman  for  his  faithful  ser- 
vices as  a  Representative  of  this  Town  in  General  Assembly,  some 
Years  past 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  3.  O'Clock.  P  :  M  : 

3  O'Clock  P :   M  :  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  *'  for  Paving  the  Street 
leading  from  Water  Street  into  Milk  Street" — was  read,  and 
after  debate  had  thereon 

Voted,  that  the  Town  be  at  the  Expenee  of  Forty  Five  Pounds 
towards  paving  said  Lane,  the  Land  having  been  given  by  one  of 
the  Petitioners,  provided  the  rest  is  made  up  by  Subscription,  and 
the  Paving  compleated  to  the  Satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen 

The  following  is  the  Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Coll8.  Barree,  Mem- 
ber of  Parliament  to  James  Otis  Esq.  as  Chairman  of  the  Commit- 
tee appointed  to  transmit  him  the  Thanks  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
this  Metropolis,  for  [TOO.]  His  Patriotick  Speech  at  the  last 
Session  of  Parliament   in  favor  of  the  Colonies,  which  was  laid 

before  the  Town  by  said  Mr.  Otis 

Sir 

It  Is  with  the  highest  Sense  of  the  Honor  done  me  I  acknowl- 
edge the  Receipt,  of  your  Letter  dated  Boston  New  England 
September  20th.  with  the  unanimous  resolution  of  the  committee 
inclosed  containing  expressions  of  approbation  from  the  Metropolis 
of  His  Majestys  ancient  and  loyal  Province  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay,  which  ;ire  exceeding  flattering  to  me  —  During  the  last 
war,  the  course  of  my  profession  gave  me  frequent  and  pleasing 
opportunities  of  observing  attentively  the  spirit,  loyalty,  and 
attachment  of  his  Majestys  North  American  Subjects,  in  support 
of  a  war  begun  in  defence  of  the  limits  of  North  America,  and 
continued  to  the  honor  and  immortal  glory  of  this  Nation  in  every 
part  of  the  world. 


178  City  Document  No.  88. 

My  natural  attachment  to  this  country,  a  regard  to  its  most 
solid  interests,  to  its  improvements  iu  time  of  peace  (which  so 
greatly  depends  on  the  establishing  our  late  extended  commerce 
upon  those  generous  and  steady  principles,  which  a  happy  experi- 
ence, and  the  information  of  those  most  materially  concerned  can 
suggest)  and  to  the  uniting  of  our  strength  in  case  of  any  future 
rupture,  has  and  will  ever  make  me  desirous  of  promoting  every 
measure  that  may  contribute  to  those  good  effects,  and  of  strongly 
deprecating  those  of  a  contrary  tendency.  My  conduct  in  Parlia- 
ment so  obligingly  refarr'd  to,  being  the  real  sentiments  of  my 
heart,  was  the  natural  result  of  those  considerations.  The  terms 
in  which  they  were  delivered  were  such  as  the  particular  circum- 
stances of  time  and  place  first  suggested,  and  such  as  I  cannot 
possibly  at  this  distance  charge  my  memory  with.  They  were  not 
premeditated,  nor  are  they  perhaps  worthy  to  be  remembred.  I 
must  therefore  beg  your  meditation  Sir,  with  the  respectable  body 
whose  pen  you  hold,  to  excuse  my  troubling  them  with  an  imper- 
fect repetition  of  words  in  themselves  of  little  use  in  North 
America.  But  if  there  should  be  any  call  for  the  like  exertions  in 
Europe.  I  beg  leave  thro.  [701.]  Your'  means  to  assure  them 
that  no  consideration  shall  make  me  forget  my  duty,  whensoever 
an  occasion  presents  itself,  of  promoting  to  the  utmost  of  my 
abilitys,  the  united  interest  of  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies- 

As  long  as  the  Inhabitants  of  Massachusetts  Bay  will  continue 
to  regard  the  motives  of  my  conduct,  and  not  the  consequences,  I 
do  not  despair  of  retaining,  what  I  shall  ever  esteem  among  the 
greatest  rewards,  their  approbation,  of  which  I  cannot  have  a 
more  honourable  or  distinguishing  mark  than  that  contain'd  in  the 
last  part  of  their  resolution.  A  flattering  request  which  I  shall 
comply  with  as  soon  as  possible 

My  being  abroad  the  whole  summer  prevented  me  from  having 
the  Honor  of  receiving  your  letter  sooner  than  the  end  of  december ; 
this  circumstance  I  beg  may  be  communicated  to  the  gentlemen  of 
the  committee  and  to  your  respectable  fellow  citizens :  At  the 
same  time  you  will  accept  I  hope  of  my  sincere  thanks,  for  your 
very  polite  manner  of  communicating  to  me  their  sentiments,  and 
for  the  trouble  you  have  had  on  this  occasion.  1  am  with  the 
greatest  respect  and  personal  regard 

Sir 

Your  most  obedient  and 
most  humble  Servant 

London  Jan7.  11.  1766  Isaac  Bakree 

To  the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq. 

Mr.  Otis  also  laid  before  the  Town  a  Letter  he  had  Just  received 
from  the  Right  Honorable  General  Conway  one  of  his  Majestys 

principal  Secretarys  of  State  ;  the  following  is  a  Copy  thereof ■ 

S4.  James's  November  10.  1765. 
Sir 

I  had  the  favor  of  your  Letter  of  20th.  of  September  last,  trans- 
mitting to  me  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  of  Boston  for  a  Speech 
marie  by  me,  last  Session  of  Pai-liament,  in  favor  of  the  Colonies. 
Though  I  am  [70S.]  Persuaded,  Sir,  the  Honor  done  me  on  this 


Boston  Town  Records.  1766.  179 

Occasion  is  such  as  myr  feeble  Efforts  in  a  Question,  where  the 
Interest  of  the  Colonies  were  concerned,  could  give  me  little  pre- 
tentions to  ;  I  cannot  however  be  less  sensible  of  this  singular 
Mark  of  Distinction  from  the  Inhabitants  of  Boston  :  I  must  there- 
fore beg  thro'  you,  Sir,  to  return  them  my  humble  Thanks  for  this 
extraordinary  Honor,  and  to  assure  them  that  my  sincere  and 
earnest  Endeavours  shall  never  be  wanting  to  promote  the  Well- 
fare  of  the  British  Colonies  ;  persuaded  that  I  can  give  no  stronger 
Proof  of  Zeal  for  this  Country,  whose  Interest  I  hold  to  be  in- 
sepparable  from  those  of  her  Provinces  ;  and  that  no  true  Friend  to 
either  can  wish  to  sow  or  to  encourage  any  Principles  of  Disgust 
or  Division  between  them 

In  regard  to  the  Copy  of  my  Speech  which  they  do  me  the 
Honor  to  ask  for,  I  must  beg  you,  Sir,  to  make  my  excuse,  as  it 
has  never  been  nn'  Custom  to  commit  to  writing  any  weak 
Thoughts,  I  may  presume  at  any  Time  to  offer  to  Parliament ;  nor 
if  it  were  possible  at  this  Distance  of  Time,  to  recollect  the 
Arguments  I  might  have  used  conld  I  think  what  I  said  on  the 
Occasion  they  alude  to,  by  any  means  worthy  of  their  Attention 
or  Acceptance. 

The  Honor  done  to  me  by  the  Gentlemen  of  Bostou,  in  their 
Intention  of  allowing  my  Picture  a  Place  in  the  Faueuil  Hall,  is 
such  that  I  cannot  but  acknowledge  with  much  Gratitude,  as  a 
singuhir  Proof  of  their  favourable  Opinion  :  And  since  they  are 
pleased  to  think  it  worth  their  Acceptance,  they  may  depend  upon 
my  obeying  their  Commands  upon  that  Subject 

I  must  beg  leave  to  add  to  this  my  particular  Thanks,  for  the 
very  polite  manner  in  which  you  have  been  pleased  to  communicate 
to  me  the  above  Resolutions,  and  to  assure  you  of  the  greatest 

Esteem  with  which  I  am 

Sir 

Your  most  humble 

and  obed'.  Servant 

H.  S.  Conway 

[703.]  Upon  considering  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant.  (Viz1.) 
"  To  determine  whether  the  Ground  on  the  South  Side  and  East 
End  of  the  Market  shall  be  paved  "It  was 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  Pave  and  Repair  so 
much  of  the  Ground  within  the  Market  Rails,  at  the  South  and 
East  Side  of  the  Market  as  they  may  Judge  proper- 

The  Committee  appointed  to  open  a  Subscription  for  raising 
Moneys  for  Building  and  Endowing  a  Bedlam  Reported  —  where- 
upon Voted  that  said  Report  lay  upon  the  Table 

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warr'.  (Viz11  )  "  That 
the  Sense  of  the  Town  may  be  known  respecting  the  late  Honble. 
Thomas  Hancock  Esq.  Donation  towards  Building  a  Bedlam." 
Voted,  that  Foster  Hutchinson  Esq. 
Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 
John  Ruddock  Esq. 
William  Phillips  Esq. 
Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Commiitee  to  take  this  Matter  into 


180  City  Document  No.  88. 

Consideration,  and  Report  what  is  proper  to  be  done  by  the  Town, 

at  the  Adjournment  of  this  Meeting 

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant    (Viz'.)  "To 

determine  what  steps  shall  be  taken  relative  to  the  Bankrupt  Act" 

Voted,  that  it  be  an  Instruction  to  the  Representatives  of  this 

Town  in  General  Assembly,  that  they  move  for  a  Repeal  of  the 

present  Bankrupt  Act 

Voted,  that  tho  Representatives  move  that  any  Bill  relative  to 
Bankrupts,  that  shall  be  brought  into  the  House,  be  laid  before 
the  Town  before  it  shall  be  passed  into  a  Law  —  It  was  further 
[704.]     Voted,  that  John  Rowe  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Mullineux 
William  Phillips  Esq. 
Mr.  Thomas  Gray 
John  Avery  Esq. 
Nathaniel  Bethune  Esq. 
Richard  Clark  Esq. 
Mr.  Henderson  Inches 
Mr.  Edward  Payne 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  and  Report 
at  the  Adjournment   of  this  Meeting   their  Opinion  of  a   proper 
Bankrupt  Bill  for  this  Province. 

Upon  consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Warrant.  (Viz'.) 
"  Whether  Instructions  shall  be  given  to  the  Representatives  that 

may  be  chosen  " 

Voted,  that  Richard  Dana  Esq. 

Edmund  Quincy,  Tertius 
Mr.  Thomas  Gray 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
Samuel  Grant  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  draw  up  Instructions 
to  the  Representatives,  and  to  Report  the  same  at  the  Adjourn- 
ment of  this  Meeting. 

Mr  Stephen  Cleverly 
was  chosen  a  Clerk  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Monday  the  26th. 
Instant,  10.  O'Clock  Before  Noon ■ 

Monday  the  26th.  of  May.  10.  O'Clock.  A  :  M  : 

[705.]     Town  met  according  to  Adjournment. 

To  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  Boston  in  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  May  17G6 

Pursuant  to  a  Vote  of  the  Town  of  Boston  at  their  Annual 
Meeting  the  14th.  of  May  1764  —  desiring  the  Selectmen  to  visit 
the  several  publick  Schools  in  the  Town,  and  to  invite  such  Gentle- 
men to  accompany  them  therein,  as  they  should  think  proper,  and 
to  Report  thereon 

We  the  Subscribers  accordingly  attended  that  service  on 
Wednesday  the  26.  Day  of  June  last  accompanied  by  the  follow- 
ing Gentlemen  —  Viz'. 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq. 
Thomas  Flucker  Esq. 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  1766.  181 

Harrison  Gray  Esq. 

James  Bowdoin  Esq. 

William  Brattle  Esq. 

Nathaniel  Sparhawk.  Esq. 
The  Representatives  of  the  Town 
The  Overseers  of  the  Poor 
The   Revd.    Joseph  Sewall  D  :  D  : 

Charles  Chauncy  D  :  D  : 

Jonathan  May  hew  D  :  D  : 

Mr.  Samuel  Mather 

Mr.  Andrew  Elliot 

Mr.  Samuel  Checkley 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Pemberton 

Mr.  Mather  Byles 

Mr.  Samuel  Checkley  Junr. 

Mr.  Samuel  Cooper 

Mr.  Joseph  Jackson 

Coll0.  Salstonstall  of  New  London 

Nathaniel  Thwing  Esq. 

James  Pitts  Esq. 
[706.]  John  Tuder  Esq. 

Dr.  Phil :  God  :  Cast 

Mr.  Samuel  Austin 

Mr.  William  Parkman 

Cap*.  Ichabod  Jones 

Mr.  Alexander  Hill 

Mr.  Jonathan  Williams 

Ezekiel  Gokltkwait  Esq. 

Mr.  Samuel  Pemberton 

Mr.  Mansfield  of  Marblehead 

Dr.  Thomas  Bullfinch 

Dr.  Nathaniel  Perkins 

Cap*.  Phillips  of  Castle  William 

Mr.  John  Mico  Wendell 

The  Surveyer  General 

Mr.  John  Smith 

Mr.  Peter  Cherdon 

Henry  Lloyd  Esq. 

James  Beauteneau  Esq. 

Mr.  Edward  Payne 
And  found  the  South  Grammar  School  had  119  Scholars 
the  North  Grammar  School  about  -     -     -       47  Scholars 

the  South  Writing  School 250  Scholars 

the  North  Writing  School 246  Scholars 

the  Writing  School  in  Queen  Street     -     -     246  Scholars 

all  in  very  good  order 

Joshua  Henshaw  " 
Joseph  Jackson 
Benjamin  Austin 
Samuel  Sewall 
John  Ruddock 
John  Hancock. 


Selectmen 
of  Boston. 


182  City  Document  No!  88. 

[707  o]  Voted,  that  the  above  Report  1)0  accepted  and  that 
the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  visit  the  publick 
Schools  the  Year  ensuing,  and  that  they  desire  such  Gentlemen  to 
accompany  them  therein,  as  they  shall  think  proper,  and  con- 
venient, and  that  they  Report  thereon 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  Accounts  of  Mr. 
David  Jeffries  Town  Treasurer  have  attended  that  service,  and 
find  the  same  right  Cast  and  well  Vouched,  in  which  he  charges 
himself  with  sundry  Fines,  Rents  and  other  Incomes  of  the  Town 
as  also  with  the  Tax  of  £5000  —  all  which  amount  to  the  Sum  of 
£12914  ,,  1  ,,  5J  including  the  balance  of  old  Account 

And  the  said  Treasurer  discharges  himself  by  sundry  Abate- 
ments made  the  Collectors  amounting  to  £1145  ,,  15  ,,  3f  by 
Drafts  made  by  the  Selectmen  amounting  to  £3326  ,,  8  ,,  9  of 
which  he  has  paid  £2617  ,,  16  ,,  11^  and  by  Drafts  made  by  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  which  contain  the  charges  of  the  Alms 
house  amounting  to  £2658  ,,  17,,  7£d.  of  which  he  has  paid  £1464  ,, 
17  ,,  10£.  Also  by  sundry  Sums  paid  for  Interest  amounting  to 
£207  ,,  17  ,,  10£—  the  whole  amounting  to  £7338  ,,  19  ,,  63  

The  said  Committee  have  inspected  said  Drafts  in  a  very  par- 
ticular manner ;  and  have  examined  the  Vouchers  produced  by  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  amount  of  their  Drafts,  and  every 
other  branch  of  publick  Charge,  amounting  in  all  as  above  to 
£7338  ,,  19  ,,  6%  as  by  Account  of  Town  Treasury  in  the  Town 
Treasurers  Books,  Balance  whereof  being  £5575  ,,  1  ,,  10§  is 
carried  to  the  Credit  of  new  Account 

Which  Report  and  Account  being  read  —  Voted,  that  the  same 
be  and  hereby  is  accepted 

The  Committee  appointed  to  draw  up  Instructions  for  the  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  Town,  Reported  the  following  Draft 

To  the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  Mr. 
Samuel  Adams,  and  John  Hancock  Esq. 

[708.]     Gentlemen 

The  trust  we  your  constituents  have  reposed  in  you,  by  chus'ng 
you  to  represent  us  in  the  approaching  general  assembly  of  this 
Province,  is  of  so  important  a  nature,  that  nothing  short  of  an 
iutire  confidence  in  your  wisdom  and  integrity,  could  have  pre- 
vailed on  us  to  have  devolved  it  upon  you.  And  although  it  is 
not  customar}^  for  us  to  give  Instructions  to  our  representatives, 
for  their  conduct  in  all  cases,  or  upon  all  occasions,  yet  we  hold 
the  right  of  so  doing,  whenever  we  think  fit  to  be  sacred  and  un- 
alienable. The  present  situation  of  this  Province  in  particular, 
of  North  America  in  general,  and  of  Great  Britain  and  her  Colo- 
nies, as  a  Nation,  is  such,  that  notwithstanding  our  confidence  in 
your  abilities,  we  apprehend  it  not  improper  for  us  to  give  you  our 
advice,  and  instructions  upon  some  of  the  important  affairs  which 
may  come  before  you  in  that  assembly :  And  we  expect  that  you 
regulate  your  conduct  therein  accordingly : 

In  the  first  place,  as  to  this  province  in  particular,  it  is  our 
advice  and  instruction,  that  you  endeavor  as  far  as  in  you  lieth,  to 
support  all  the  fundamental  laws  of  our  constitution,  and  maintain 
the  authority  of  government  upon  every  occasion.  — That  you  do 


Boston   Town  Records,  17GG.  183 

all  iu  your  power  to  prevent  money,  or  any  pretence  whatsoever, 
being  drawn  out  of  the  pnblick  Treasury,  contrary  to  the  appro- 
priations thereof;  and  that  if  any  such  drafts  should  ever  be  made, 
you  bear  due  testimony  against  it.  

That  you  be  not  persimonious  in  the  support  of  executive  officers 
of  government,  but  at  the  same  time  use  all  your  influence  against 
any  one  officers  holding  two  or  more  places  inconsistent  or  intcr- 
fereing  with  each  other. — That  you  take  particular  care  in  your 
choice  of  councilers  and  other  officers  of  the  government  for  the 
ensuing  year,  that  they  be  men  of  integrity,  and  wisdom,  lovers  of 
liberty,  and  of  our  civil  and  ecclesiastical  constitution  ;  not  giving 
your  suffrage  for  any  whose  characters  are  doubtfull,  or  who  are 
of  a  timid  or  wavering  disposition.  — That  you  bring  forward  and 
promote  such  an  order  as  shall  make  the  debates  in  the  house  of 
representatives  as  public  as  those  in  the  House  of  Commons  in 
Great  Britain  that  you  be  very  watchful  over  our  Just  rights, 
liberties  and  privileges  [709.]  And  give  us  notice  whenever  you 
apprehend  them  in  danger ;  and  for  the  total  abolishing  of  slavery 
from  among  us  ;  that  you  move  for  a  law,  to  prohibit  the  importa- 
tion and  purchasing  of  slaves  for  the  future. 

That  you  support  and  promote  the  commercial  interests  of  this 
province  on  all  occasions,  as  we  apprehend  the  prosperity  and 
increase  thereof  in  a  great  measure  depends  upon  the  flourishing 
State  of  its  trade  :  And  that  you  b}7  no  means  consent  to  the  laying 
any  unjust  burden  thereon,  ever  giving  us  the  earliest  notice  of 
such  an  attempt.  That  you  also  encourage  husbandry  in  all  its 
branches,  and  that  spirit  of  industry,  frugality  and  oeconomy, 
which  we  rejoice  to  find  hath  already  taken  place,  and  so  much 
increased  among  us  of  late.  —  That  you  oppose  any  grants  for 
erecting,  maintaining,  or  garrisoning  any  useless  or  unnecessary 
Forts  or  fortresses,  in  any  part  of  this  province  ;  and  if  any  such 
fortresses  be  now  garrisoned  and  maintain'd  at  the  public  expence, 
that  you  do  your  utmost  that  such  greieveances  may  be  speedily 
redressed.  That  you  at  the  same  time  duly  support  and  encourage 
our  seminaries  of  learning,  by  a  suitable  liberality  to  the  governors 
and  instructers  thereof,  more  agreable  to  the  importance  of  their 
office  than  to  the  parsimony  heretofore  observed  in  grants  for  that 
purpose ;  since  we  apprehend  that  learning  is  the  surest  support 
of  our  constitution ;  science  being  the  handmaid  of  liberty,  while 
ignorance  is  the  nurse  of  slavery. 

In  the  next  place  with  respect  to  North  America  in  general,  it 
is  our  advice  and  instruction,  that  you  keep  up  a  constant  and 
friendly  intercourse  with  the  other  English  Governments  on  the 
Continent :  That  you  conciliate  divisions  and  differences  if  any  be 
now  subsisting,  or  should  hereafter  arise  ;  ever  preferring  their 
friendship  and  confidence,  to  the  demands  of  rigorous  Justice 
without  them.  — In  the  last  place  as  to  Great  Britain  &  her  Colo- 
nies as  a  Nation  —  It  is  our  advice  and  instruction,  that  on  all 
proper  occasions  you  openly  profess  our  duty  and  loyaltv  to  the 
King  ;  aud  a  constitutional  subordination  to  parliament.  That  you 
treat  his  Majestys  Representatives,  and  all  his  other  officers  here, 
with  due  respect ;  being  at  the  same  time  vigilant  and  Jealous,  of 


184  City  Document  No.  88. 

our  Just  rights  liberties  and  privileges  ;  iu  all  [710.]  Cases  pro- 
testing against  and  counteracting,  with  decent  firmness  every 
attempt  iu  the  least  to  abridge  or  infringe  them.  That  you 
endeavor  to  promote  that  harmony,  which  ought  ever  to  subsist 

between  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  several  times,  and 
duly  considered  :   It   was  Voted,  unanimously,  that  the  same  be 

accepted  

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the  Dona- 
tion of  the  late  Honourable  Thomas  Hancock  Esq.  for  building  an 
Hospital  or  Bedlam  for  the  reception  of  such  unhappy  persons  as 
it  may  please  God  in  his  providence  to  deprive  of  iheir  reason  — 

Report 

That  they  have  met  and  considered  of  the  same,  and  it  appear- 
ing to  the  Committee  that  the  Honble.  Gentleman  deceased  for 
some  years  before  his  death  being  fully  convinced  of  the  necessity 
of  having  such  a  House,  generously  laid  a  foundation  for  the  same 
by  the  bequest  of  Six  hundred  Pounds  lawful  money,  and  it  being 
the  sense  of  the  Town  that  such  an  House  is  much  wanted,  they 
accordingly  by  their  Vote  passed  the  25th.  March  1765  readily  ac- 
cepted of  said  Donation — The  Committee  are  therefore  of  Opinion 
that  the  Town  immediately  proceed  to  Erect  or  procure  a  Building 
suitable  to  answer  the  noble  Design  of  Mr.  Hancock ;  but  as  the 
Sum  by  him  given  is  insufficient  for  effecting  it,  aud  a  very  con- 
siderable additional  Sum  will  be  wanted  to  compleat  said  Building, 
and  supplying  it  with  all  Necessarys,  the  Committee  would  propose 
that  the  Town  apply  to  the  General  Court  for  their  assistance 
therein,  and  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  some  further  Da}', 
in  order  to  know  what  the  General  Court  shall  have  done  in  this 
matter,  that  so  the  Town  may  regulate  its  further  proceedings 
accordingly ;  the  Committee  being  of  Opinion  that  it  is  an  affair  of 
such  importance  and  under  such  Circumstances  as  that  it  will  not 
admit  of  an}r  further  delay. 

The  above  Report  having  been  read  and  considered  —  Voted, 

unanimously,  that  the  same  be  accepted 

It  was  further  Voted,  that, 

The  Honble  Samuel  Wells  Esq. 

Samuel  Sewall  Esq. 
[111.]  Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 

Foster  Hutchinson  Esq 

Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 

William  Phillips  Esq. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  prefer  a  Petition  to 
the  General  Assembly  to  obtain  some  addition  to  the  Donation 
of  the  late  Hoable.  Thomas  Hancock  Esq.  for  building  a  Bedlam  iu 
order  to  effect  the  purposes  intended  by  the  noble  design  of  the 

Bequest 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  and  Report  at  this  Ad- 
journment, their  Opinion  of  a  proper  Bankrupt  Bill  for  this 
Province,  desired  further  Time  to  consider  the  same  which  was 
granted  accordingly. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1766.        185 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Five  Thousand  Pounds  be  raised  by  a 
Tax  upon  Polls  and  Estates  within  this  Town  for  relief  of  the 
Poor,  and  defreying  other  necessary  Charges  arising  within  the 
Town  the  ensuing  Year 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  Peleg  Wiswall  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North 
Grammar  School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  he  paid  him 
quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expira- 
tion of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  and  twenty  Pounds  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  Mr.  John  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of 
the  .South  Grammar  School  for  the  ensuing  Yrear,  the  samo  to  be 
paid  him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  Samuel  Holyoke  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writing  School 
[712.]  In  Queen  Street  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter- 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  &  paid 
unto  Mr.  John  Procter  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  Queen  Street  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  Abiah  Holbrook  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  the  Common  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  John  Tileston  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North  Writ- 
ing School  for  the  ensuing  Year  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly 
as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the 
last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds,  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  James  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  South  Grammar 
School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  he  paid  him  quarterly 
as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the 
last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  further  Sum  of  Forty  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  James  Lovel  as  an  encouragement  for  him  to  remain 
and  exert  himself  in  the  service  of  the  Town  the  ensuing  Year  the 
same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  com- 
mence at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
[713.]  Unto  Mr.  Josiah  Langdon  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the 
North  Grammar  School  the  ensuing  Year  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expira- 
tion of  i  he  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allowed  &  paid  uuto 
Mr.  James  Carter  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  North  Writing 
School  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it 


186  City  Document  No.  88. 

shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Forty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  Abiah  Molbrook  Master  of  the  Writing  School  in  the  Common, 
—  for  providing  an  Assistant  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  out  of  the  Town  Treasury  unto  Mr.  David  Jeffries  for  his 
Services  as  Treasurer  of  the  Town  the  Year  past,  and  for  all  his 
Expence  in  that  Office 

Vote'd,  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  and  he  hereby  is  directed 
and  impower'd  to  allow  the  several  Schoolmasters  Interest  on  the 
Sums  due  to  them  from  the  Date  of  their  Warrants  to  the  Time 
of  payment 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  and  Report 
at  this  Meeting  "  what  they  shall  apprehend  may  be  further  neces- 
sary for  the  Town  to  do  in  order  to  testify  their  Gratitude  to  those 
Patriots  on  the  other  side  of  the  Water  to  whose  endeavours  it  is 
owing  that  the  Liberties  of  America  are  secured  and  Love  &  Har- 
mony between  his  Majestys  Subjects  in  Great  Britain  and  the 
Colonies  is  perpetuated  by  the  happy  Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  " 
Reported  accordingly,  and  upon  a  motion  made  by  said  Committee 
for  leave  to  withdraw  their  Report —  [714:.]  Leave  was  granted 

for  that  purpose 

Voted,  that  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator 
Richard  Dana  Esq. 
Samuel  Wells  Esq. 
John  Ruddock  Esq. 
Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
be  added  to  the  above  Committee  who  are  desired  to  make  Report 
at  the  Adjournment  of  this  Meeting 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Wednesday  the  2d. 
Day  of  July  next  10.  O'Clock  A  :  M  : 

Wednesday  the  2d  Day  of  July  Met  according  to  Adjourn- 
ment   

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  act  upon  the  List  of  Jurors 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  &  Things  that  remain  unfinished  at  this 
Meeting  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  next  General  Town 
Meeting  to  be  then  considered  and  acted  upon 

Voted  unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[715.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  8th.  Day  of 
October  Anno  Domini  1 76G 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting         -  read 


Boston  Town  Records,  1766.  187 

The  Inhabitants  withdrew  and  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a 
Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeard  that 
the  Hon'?le.  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  by  a  great  majority 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  the  following  Vote  was 
passed  unanimously 

Whereas  His  Excellency  the  Governor  has  been  pleased  lately 
to  Convene  before  him  in  Council  Stephen  Greanleaff  Esq.  Sheriff 
of  the  County  of  Suffolk  William  Sheaff  Esq.  Deputy  Collector, 
and  Benjamin  Hallowell  Esq.  Comptroller  of  His  Majcstys  Cus- 
toms for  the  Port  of  Boston,  and  sundry  other  Persons  Inhabitants 
of  this  Town,  and  to  Administer  Oaths  to  the  same  Persons,  and 
to  take  their  Depositions  in  Writing  relating  to  the  proceedings  of 
those  Officers,  and  the  behavior  of  a  number  of  People,  while  those 
Officers  were  in  search  of  Counterband  Goods  pretended  to  be  in 
the  Dwelling  House  of  Cap*.  Daniel  Malcomb  of  this  Town,  which 
same  Depositions  it  is  said  contain  Opinions  Representations  and 
Assertions  which  taken  by  themselves  and  unaccompanied  with  a 
full  and  true  Representation  of  that  Affair  may  be  construed  in 
such  a  manner  as  greatly  to  effect  and  prejudice  the  Trade  Com- 
merce and  Reputation  of  this  Metropolis  and  of  the  Province  in 
general  —  And  whereas  it  has  been  suggested  that  the  same  Testi- 
mony, contrary  to  the  advice  of  his  Majestys  Council,  are  about 
to  be  transmitted  home,  although  not  suffered  to  be. Recorded,  but 
kept  from  public  view 

Voted,  that  the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 

[716.]                           John  Hancock  Esq. 
William  Phillips  Esq. 
Mr.  Timothy  Newell 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  wait  upon  his  Excellency  the  Governor  in  behalf 
of  the  Town,  and.  to  desire  he  would  be  pleased  to  give  the  Secre- 
tary Orders   to  furnish   the  Town  Clerk   with  Copies  of  all  the 
Depositions  relating  to  the  Information  given  to  the  Custom  house 
Officers,  and   the  proceedings  therein,  that  so  the  Town  having 
Knowledge  of  their  Accusers,  and  of  the  nature  and  design   of 
the  Testimonys  taken,  may  have  it  in  their  power  to  rectify  mis- 
takes, and  counterwork  the  desigus  of  any  who  would  represent 
them  in  a  disadvantageous  Light  to  his  Majestys  Ministers 

The  Town  then  took  into  Consideration  the  Clause  in  the  War- 
rant Viz1  —  "To  determine  whether  they  will  give  their  Repre- 
sentatives Instructions  relative  to  a  Reimbursement  being  made 
those  Gentlemen  who  suffered  by  the  violences  of  Persons  unknown 
in  the  Month  of  August  1765"  —  when  the  following  Vote 
passed  unanimously 

Whereas  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  have  ever  held  the 
violent  outrages  of  Persons  unknown  in  the  late  Times  of  distress 
in  the  utmost  detestation  and  abhorence,  and  from  a  sense  of  duty 
as  well  as  .lust  indignation  at  the  ravages  committed  on  the 
properties  of  diverse  of  iheir  Fellow  Subjects  and  Citizens  on  the 


183  City  Document  No.  88. 

2 1th  of  August  17G5.  look  the  earliest  opportunity  to  exert  their 
strenuous  endeavors,  in  aid  of  the  civil  authority  to  restore  peace 
order  and  tranquility  ;  which  were  accordingly  in  one  day  restored 
and  have  been  ever  since  preserved.  And  whereas  his  Majesty 
has  been  pleased  only  to  recommend  it  to  the  General  Assembly  of 
this  Province  to  make  up  the  losses  of  the  Sufferers  in  the  late 
unhappy  Times,  although  hisExcelleucy  the  Governor  has  thought 
fit  to  interprit  the  same  as  a  Iiequisiion  so  peremptory  &  authori- 
tice  as  to  preclude  not  ouly  all  controversy  &  debate,  but  even 
deliberation  with  regard  to  a  compliance. 

[717.]  From  no  regard  to  said  interpretation,  but  in  dutiful 
respect  to  the  mild  recommendation  of  our  most  gracious  Sover- 
eign, in  humanity  and  generosity  towards  those  Gentlemen  who 
have  suffered  in  a  manner  that  no  man  ought,  especially  in  a  state 
of  civil  society 

Voted,  that  on  application  of  such  Sufferers  to  the  General 
Assembly  in  a  Parliamentary  way,  the  Representatives  of  this 
Town  be  directed,  and  they  are  accordingly  directed  in  their  best 
discretion  to  use  their  influence,  that  such  losses  be  made  up 
as  far  as  may  be,  in  a  manner  the  most  loyal  and  respectful  with 
regard  to  his  Majesty,  the  most  constitutional  and  safe  with  regard 
to  our  invaluable  rights  &  privileges  and  the  most  humane  and 
benevolent  with  regard  to  the  Sufferers 

Adjourned  to  3  O'Clock  P :  M  : 

Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  in  the  Forenoon  to  wait  upon  his 
Excellency  Reported,  that  they  had  accordingly  waited  upon  his 
Excellency,  and  presented  him  with  a  copy  of  the  vote  of  the 
Town  —  Whereupon  his  Excell7  was  pleased  to  say,  that  by  order 
of  Council  the  Depositions  mentioned  were  to  be  kept  secret ; 
but  that  he  should  take  advice  of  Council,  and  if  they  should 
advise  him  he  had  in  himself  no  difficulty,  as  to  complying  with 
the  request  of  the  Town 

After  which  the  Town  Clerk  having  received  the  following  Vote 
of  Council,  together  with  the  Copys  of  said  Depositions,  laid  the 
same  before  the  Town  —  The  Vote  of  Council  is  as  follows,  Viz4. 

In  Council  October  8  1 766. 

A  Committee  of  the  Town  of  Boston  having  laid  before  his  Ex- 
cellency in  Council  the  Copy  of  a  Vote  of  the  said  Town  passed 
this  Day  in  Town  Meeting  desiring  Copies  of  certain  Depositions 
taken  in  Council  relative  to  the  proceedings  of  the  Sheriff  of  the 
County  of  Suffolk,  The  Deputy  Collector  of  the  Customs,  and  the 
Comptroller  for  the  Port  of  Boston,  and  the  behavior  [718.]  Of 
a  number  of  People  while  those  Officers  were  in  search  of  Coun- 
terband  Goods ;  His  Excellency  thereupon  took  the  advice  of 
Council,  who  advised  that  the  Secretary  have  leave  to  give  out  the 
Copies  aforesaid  But  in  as  much  as  it  is  suggested  in  the  said 
Vote  that  the  said  Testimonys  contrary  to  the  advice  of  liis  Maj- 
estys  Council  are  about  to  be  transmitted  home,  although  not  Suf- 
fered to  be  Recorded,  but  kept  from  public  view — Advised  and 
Ordered  that  the  Secretary  acquaint  the  said  Committee  that  the 
Council  have  never  given  any  advise  either  for  or  against  the 


Boston   Town  Kecords,  1766.  189 

said  Testimonies  being  transmitted,   and  that  no  Copies  have  as 
yet  been  taken  out  of  the  Office 

A  true  Copy  from  the  Council  Minutes 

Att.  John  Cotton  D.  Secretary 

The  above  Vote  or  order  of  Council  together  with  the  Deposi- 
tions being  read,  the  Town  came  into  the  following  Vote 

Voted,  that  the  Honble  James  Otis  Esq. 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
John  Rowe.  Esq. 
John  Hancock.  Esq. 
Mr.  Edward  Payne 
Mr.  Edward  Quincy  Tertius 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  take  these  Dep- 
ositions into  consideration  ;  to  procure  such  Evidences  as  may  be 
further  necessary  to  set  this  matter  in  its  true  light,  and  Report 
the  same  at  the  Adjournment  of  this  Meeting,  together  with  their 
Opinion  what  may  be  further  necessary  to  be  done  by  the  Town 
in  order  to  prevent  the  ill  consequences  that  may  arise  by  means 
of  a  partial  representation 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that  the  above 
Votes  be  published  in  the  public  Prints 

The  Petition  of  Enoch  Brown  ' '  that  a  small  peice  of  Land  on 
the  North  side  of  Boston  Neck  may  be  Leased  to  him  for  a  term 
of  Years"  [719.]  Was  read  —  whereupon  Voted,  that  the  Select- 
men be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  treat  with 
him  and  to  Lease  said  Peice  of  Land  for  a  term  of  Time  not  ex- 
ceeding Seven  Years 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants,  "  that  some  method 
may  be  come  into  to  repair  and  secure  the  main  Street  leading  to 
the  Fortification,  which  has  been  much  damaged  by  the  Inroads  of 
the  Sea"  was  read,  and  after  debate  had  thereon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  call  upon  the  Pro- 
prietors of  Land  near  the  Fortification  to  fulfill  the  Conditions  upon 
which  those  Lands  were  granted  them 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded  that  the  Selectmen  be  desir'd 
as  soon  as  the  above  Proprietors  have  done  their  part  of  the  Re- 
pairs, to  compleat  the  remainder,  and  the  Question  was  accordingly 
put  —  but  the  Town  apprehending  that  those  Repairs  lay  wholly 
with  those  Proprietors  it  passed  in  the  negative 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  "  that  the  Clock  at 
Christ  Church,  might  be  Repair'd  and  kept  so  at  the  public  Charge, 
for  the  conveniency  of  that  part  of  the  Town"  was  read,  and  alter 
Debate  had  thereon — Voted,  that  the  Prayer  of  the  Petition  be 
granted  

That  Article  in  the  "Warrant  Viz'.  "  To  consider  what  is  further 
necessary  to  be  done  for  the  preservation  of  the  Towns  interest 
near  the  North  Battery,"  was  read  and  considered,  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  take  immediate  care  that 
the  same  be  repaired  and  secured  for  the  benefit  of  the  Town 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Wednesday  the  22d. 
Instant  10.  O'Clock  A  :  M  : 


190  City  Document  No.  88. 

Wednesday  October  22d.     Met  according  to  Adjournment 

[720.]  The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Depositions 
said  to  be  taken  in  Council  relative  to  Cap'.  Malcoms  affair,  and  to 
take  such  Evidences  as  were  necessary  to  set  that  matter  in  its  true 
light,  laid  the  several  Testimony s  taken,  before  the  Town,  which 
were  distinctly  read  —  they  also  Reported  the  Draft  of  a  Letter  to 
be  sent  to  such  Gentlemen  in  London  as  they  might  Judge  proper, 
which  Draft  being  read  and  considered — 'Voted,  that  the  same  be 
accepted 

It  was  then  moved  and  Voted,  that  the  Report  be  Recommitted 
and  the  Committee  desired  to  make  an  addition  to  their  Draft  in 
order  to  represent  the  suddenness  of  the  Mob  rising  in  the  Night 
of  the  26th.  of  August  1765,  and  tue  exertions  immediately  made 
by  some  of  the  Inhabitants  to  suppress  or  quiet  those  People  — As 
also  the  method  not  long  since  taken  to  misrepresent  not  only  par- 
ticular Gentlemen,  Out  even  the  whole  Trading  Interest  by  transmit- 
ing  home  Affidavits  taken  relative  to  a  Counterband  trade  in  so 
private  a  manner,  that  the  first  notice  thereof,  was  given  us  by  our 
friends  in  England — And  that  the  Town  will  Reimburse  any  Charge 
that  may  rise  in  the  course  of  conducting  our  defence  if  there 
should  be  occasion  —  It  was  further  Voted,  that  when  the  above 
additions  are  made  theCommittee  are  desired  to  forward  fair  Copys 
of  said  Letter  and  Depositions  to  Dennis  Deberdt  Esq.  Merch*. 
in  London,  and  Agent  for  our  House  of  Representatives  to  make 
such  use  of  the  same  as  he  may  Judge  proper  and  expedient 

A  Motion  was  made  and  seconded  that  the  above  Committee 
might  also  be  desired  to  insert  in  their  Letter  some  thing  relative 
to  what  was  mentioned  and  asserted  by  several  Gentlemen,  that 
the  Affidavits  relative  to  Cap*.  Malcom  were  not  properly  taken  in 
Council  or  to  be  sent  home  with  consent  of  Council  notwithstanding 
the  Attestations  thereto  —  but  upon  one  of  the  Representatives 
rising  up  and  declaring  that  as  soon  as  the  General  Court  met,  he 
would  make  a  Motion  in  the  House  of  Representatives  for  a  Par- 
liamentary enquiry  into  the  conduct  of  the  Council  in  this  and  sim- 
ilar Occasions ;  the  Person  who  made  this  Motion,  desired  that  it 
might  be  withdrawn,  which  was  accordingly  granted 

[721-.]  It  was  moved  and  seconded  and  the  Question. accordingly 
put  —  Whether  the  Town  will  Reconsider  their  Vote  passed  at  a 
late  Meeting,  relative  to  Mr.  Enoch  Browns  Lease  of  Land  on 
Boston  Neck,  when  it  passed  in  the  negative 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  that  the  Town  Treasurer  have  leave 
to  pass  his  negotiable  Notes  to  the  Tradesmen  concerned  in  the 
Repairs  of  Faneuil  Hall  agreable  to  the  tenor  of  a  former  Vote  and 
in  which  the  terms  of  payment  are  to  be  ascertained  —  the  Question 
being  accordingly  put — -Passed  in  the  affermative 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  — Voted,  that  the  Selectmen 
have  leave  to  issue  the  Affair  of  Hews  Lilly  &  Company,  respecting 
Land  formerly  improved  by  Mr.  Frary,  and  the  Buildings  lately 
Erected  thereon,  as  they  may  Judge  most  for  the  Interest  of  the 
Town 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  &  Things  that  remain  unfinished  at  this 
Meeting,  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  next  General  Town 
Meeting  to  be  then  considered  &  acted  upon 


Boston  Town  Records,  1766.  191 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Honble  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for 
dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting;  was  dissolved. 


The  following  Letter  was  wrote  Dennis  Deberdt  Esq.  by  order 
of  the  Town 

Sir 

The  Freeholders  &  other 
Inhabitants  [722.]  Of  the  Town  of  Boston  being  legally  assem- 
bled in  Faneuil  Hall  have  appointed  as  a  committee  to  address  you 
on  their  behalf  and  to  beg  your  friendly  assistance  as  you  shall 
Judge  necessary  in  an  affair  in  which  they  apprehend  their  reputa- 
tion and  interest  may  be  greatly  concerned 

Before  we  proceed  to  the  particular  matter  which  is  the  occasion 
of  our  writing  we  beg  leave  to  observe,  that  upon  the  happy  repeal 
of  the  late  Stamp  Act,  we  were  informed  that  our  adversarys  had 
even  predicted  that  America  would  receive  the  news  in  a  manner 
haughty  and  disrespectful  to  his  Majesty  and  the  Parliament  — 
And  we  have  seen  with  astonishment  and  indignation  in  the  protest 
of  some  of  the  Lords  against  the  repeal,  that  one  reason  of  their 
Lordships  protest  was,  that  they  had  been  made  acquainted  that  it 
was  the  design  of  the  Americans  to  bring  the  authority  of  Parlia- 
ment for  the  future  into  contempt.  We  have  reason  to  believe  that 
the  decency  which  was  observed  by  persons  of  every  rank  in  all 
the  Collonies  in  their  public  rejoicings  upon  that  memorable  occasion 
has  convinced  the  sensible  and  impartial  part  of  the  Nation  that 
such  apprehensions  and  predictions  were  without  Just  grounds,  and 
we  flatter  ourselves  that  their  lordships  may  by  this  time  have  reason 
to  conclude  that  their  information  from  this  side  the  water  was  at 
least  sudden  and  injudicious,  and  perhaps  the  effect  of  a  deep  rooted 
prejudice  against  the  colonies,  a  strong  desire  to  have  the  act  in- 
forced,  and  a  determination  at  all  hazards,  to  prevent  its  repeal: 
The  truth  is  the  Colonies  who  universally  pride  themselves  in  being 
british  subjects,  and  have  the  warmest  sense  of  the  blessings  of  the 
british  constitution,  for  ever  consider  the  act  as  a  violation  of  that 
happy  constitution,  and  the}-  have  the  satisfaction  of  being  in- 
formed that  this  opinion  was  supported  by  a  number  of  the  most 
illustrious  as  well  as  respectable  of  both  houses  of  parliament — ■ 
In  this  view  of  the  nature  of  the  act  the  colony s  first  petitioned 
against  it  even  when  it  was  a  bill,  but  without  success,  and  after- 
wards came  into  resolution  to  transmit  to  posterity  their  sense  of  it 
with  assurance  that  if  it  was  finally  put  into  execution  it  would  not 
be  with  their  consent.  The  people  universally  opposed  the  act  but 
at  the  same  time  discovered  the  most  zealous  attachment  to  his 
Majestys  person  and  government,  &  the  strongest  affection  to  their 
fellow  subjects  the  people  of  Great  Britain  —  This  we  know  some 
of  our  [723.]  Enemys  have  endeavoured  to  represent  as  a  para- 
dox, and  from  an  uneasiness  or  if  they  please  an  opposition  to  a 
single  act  upon  apprehension  of  its  being  unconstitutional  they 


192  City  Document  No.  88. 

would  infer  a  settled  design  to  bring  the  whole  authority  of  parlia- 
ment into  contempt  as  if  it  could  not  possibly  be  Supposed  of  an 
affectionate  and  dutiful  son  whose  reverence  for  his  fathers  authority 
could  never  be  impeached  that  yet  in  a  single  instance  might  see 
the  unreasonableness  of  his  fathers  command  and  with  the  deepest 
regret  be  even  ready  to  refuse  obedience.  An  opposition  to  an  a<  t 
of  parliament  merely  from  a  regard  to  the  constitution  cannot  surely 
be  look'd  upon  as  a  contempt  of  the  authority  of  government  since 
government  it  self  is  built  upon  &  circumscribed  by  the  constitu- 
tion —  or  in  other  words  to  contend  for  the  grand  design  and  ends 
for  which  government  was  originally  design'd  and  instituted  is  the 
best  if  not  the  only  wa}7  to  support  its  authority.  The  colonys 
were  discontented  at  the  act  because  they  thought  it  over  lap'd  the 
bounds  of  the  constitution  —  that  it  defeated  one  of  the  essential 
designs  of  government  in  the  security  of  property  —  if  the}7  were 
in  an  error  it  was  an  error  of  their  Judgement  only  of  which  how- 
ever they  have  never  yet  been  convinced  —  to  insinuate  that  the 
opposition  to  the  act  was  mere  pretence  and  that  the  design  to  the 
colonys  was  to  weaken  the  Just  authority  of  parliament  and  by  de- 
grees to  shake  off  a  constitutional  dependence  is  insupportable  by 
a  single  fact  or  the  least  shadow  of  reason  it  is  base  ungenerous 
&  unjust 

This  Town  has  alwa}Ts  been  very  careful  during  the  late  times  of 
calamity  to  preserve  as  much  as  possible  good  order  among  its 
inhabitants,  of  which  they  gave  an  early  proof  when  a  dangerous 
mob  arose  and  some  outrages  were  committed  by  persons  as  yet 
unknown  a  good  deal  of  mischief  has  been  as  all  the  world  knows 
have  been  told,  however  after  all  the  exaggerations  the  whole  dam- 
age is  short  of  £4000  —  but  it  will  appear  the  less  surprizing 
that  so  much  was  clone  when  it  is  considered  that  the  mob  was 
sudden  and  unexpected  and  appear'd  so  furious  as  to  occasion  a 
general  consternation,  &  besides  it  being  in  the  night  it  was  not 
easy  to  distinguish  between  them  and  the  innocent  people. —  Yet 
the  inhabitants  were  far  from  being  inactive  in  their  endeavors  to 
suppress  immediately,  they  made  diverse  attempts  and  took  every 
step  that  could  be  thought  of  amidst  the  'coufusion.  A  number 
went  to  the  governors  house  to  take  his  excellencys  orders  but  he 
[724.]  Was  not  in  town  —  from  whence  one  would  conclude  that 
he  was  no  more  apprehensive  of  such  a  tumult  from  an}-  appearances 
than  others  were.  If  there  had  been  any  reason  to  suspect  it  we 
presume  his  Excellys.  care  for  the  peace  and  order  of  the  govern- 
ment would  have  procured  the  first  intelligence,  and  that  he  would 
have  thought  it  his  duty  to  have  been  present  or  at  least  that  he 
would  have  taken  the  necessary  precautions  and  given  orders  to 
have  prevented  it — but  the  Inhabitants  were  left  to  do  the  best 
they  could,  and  there  is  no  doubt  but  much  more  mischief  would 
have  been  done  if  they  had  not  made  use  of  art  and  perswasion 
when  they  fortunately  wanted  the  countenance-  of  his  Excellencys 
authority  As  a  town  they  express'd  their  detestation  of  such  pro- 
ceedings early  the  next  day,  and  assured  the  civil  majestrate  that 
they  were  ready  to  assist  to  their  utmost  in  restoring  the  peace  of 
*he  town  as  you  will  see  by  the  inclosed  vote,  and  we  may  venture 


Boston  Town  .Records,  1766.  193 

to  assure  3*011  that  the  efforts  of  persons  of  every  order  &  condition 
in  town  in  consequence  of  this  resolution  was  the  principal  means 
of  suppressing  the  mob  which  was  done  in  one  day  Yet  we  have- 
been  ungratefully  &  publickly  charged  with  being  tame  spectators 
of  this  outrage  and  have  been  told  that  our  reputation  suffers  much 
in  the  opinion  of  the  world  on  this  account  —  But  whatever  repre- 
sentation may  have  been  made  to  our  prejudice,  which  we  think  we 
have  some  good  reason  to  suspect,  our  most  inveturate  enemy  dare 
not  openly  assert  that  the  civil  authority  in  this  county  &  even  thro' 
the  province  has  not  as  good  reason  to  be  assured  of  the  assistance 
of  the  people  in  the  legal  excercise  of  power  as  in  any  country  in 
England. 

This  leads  us  to  give  you  an  account  of  some  late  occurrances  in 
this  town  which  is  the  particular  occasion  of  our  troubling  you  with 
his  letter  A  few  weeks  past  the  collector  and  comptroller  of  his 
Majestys  custom  for  this  port  having  as  they  said  an  information 
that  goods  illegally  imported  were  lodged  in  the  custody  of  one 
Mr.  MaHomb  an  inhabitant  of  the  town  they  accordingly  repaired  to 
his  house  accompanied  with  the  Sheriff  of  the  county  &  there  de- 
manded an  entry  into  his  cellars  Mr.  Malcomb  admitted  them  into 
every  Appartment  saving  one  which  being  let  he  told  Lhem  the  key 
was  not  in  his  posession  [7  2o«]  They  threatned  to  enter  by  force 
which  Mr.  Malcomb  told  them  they  must  do  at  their  peril —  how- 
ever not  having  sufficient  authority  as  they  apprehended,  they  then 
retired,  Mr.  Malcomb  supposing  they  would  return,  determined 
to  fasten  his  house  that  if  they  entred  it  should  be  forceably,  being 
assured  from  the  declaration  of  the  person  who  hired  the  aforesaid 
cellar  &  his  own  knowledge  of  the  other  appartment  that  no 
counterband  goods  were  there.  — The  officers  returned  in  the  after- 
noon &  after  some  attempt  tho'  without  violence  to  get  an  entry 
they  again  retired  and  came  no  more. 

His  Excellency  our  governor  has  been  pleased  to  summon  the 
officers  and  sheriff  before  mentioned,  and  some  of  the  persons  to 
give  their  depositions  respecting  this  matter  —  The  town  thinking 
it  unreasonable  &  a  grievance  that  evidences  should  be  taken  ex- 
porte  touching  the  conduct  of  any  of  their  inhabitants  at  their 
meeting  appointed  a  committee  to  wait  on  the  governor  and 
pray  his  Excellency  to  give  orders  to  the  secretary  to  communicate 
to  the  town  clerk  copys  of  the  depositions  which  was  afterwards 
done.  Upon  a  perusal  of  them  the  town  apprehended  that  they 
contained  a  partial  account  of  the  behavior  of  the  people  who  from 
mere  curiosity  had  got  together,  that  they  tended  to  corroborate 
the  designs  of  our  enemies  and  might  be  made  the  grounds  of 
further  misrepresentations,  and  therefore  directed  their  committee 
to  take  the  depositions  of  other  persons  of  credit  who  were  present, 
copys  of  which  together  with  those  taken  before  the  governor  in 
council  are  inclosed. 

It  is  apprehended  that  it  is  his  excellencys  design  to  transmit 
his  account  of  this  matter  to  the  ministry,  and  therefore  the  town  beg 
the  favor  of  you  to  make  enquiry  whether  he  has  so  done  and  in 
case  he  has  that  you  would  cause  to  be  laid  before  the  Ministry  the 
whole  state  of  the  matter  —  "VYe  have  the  more  reason  to  apprehend 


194  City  Document  No.  88. 

that  this  step  will  be  taken  as  things  of  this  sort  have  been  hereto- 
fore done  :  There  is  a  set  of  men  in  America  who  are  continually 
transmitting  to  the  mother  country  odious  and  false  accounts  of  the 
collonys  ;  which  is  a  crime  of  the  most  dangerous  tendency.  It  is 
probable  it  has  already  had  its  ill  effect  in  exciting  a  groundless 
Jealousy  in  the  Nation,  one  may  if  not  checked  [726.]  Too  soon 
prove  fatal  to  both  countrvs.  It  is  not  long  since  the  depositions 
of  a  number  of  persons  were  clandestinely  &  illegally  taken  indirect 
terms,  prejudicing  the  characters  of  some  gentlemen  of  fortune  and 
reputation  in  this  town,  and  representing  the  merchants  of  the  prov- 
ince in  general  as  setting  up  in  opposition  to  the  acts  of  parliament 
for  the  regulation  of  trade,  than  which  nothing  can  be  more  noto- 
riously false  and  injurious.  One  of  their  Deponents  was  a  person 
of  the  most  infamous  character  whose  name  is  Richardson.  This 
fellow  has  for  a  long  time  subsisted  by  the  business  of  an  informer 
&  is  said  to  be  such  a  one  as  was  never  encouraged  under  any  ad- 
ministration but  such  as  those  Nero  or  Caligula — that  the  evidence 
of  this  detestible  person  might  have  its  weight  they  gave  him  the 
addition  of  Esq. —  We  say  those  depositions  were  clandestine  be- 
cause they  were  taken  exporte  —  the  person  injured  by  them  were 
never  notified  as  law  &  common  equity  requires,  and  the  first  notice 
they  had  of  them  was  from  their  friends  on  3*our  side  the  water,  after, 
they  had  made  the  impression  that  was  intended.  If  such  manage- 
ments as  these  are  allowed,  what  man  or  what  corporation  is  secure 
from  proscriptions.  We  must  confess  that  the  whole  affair  in  all  its 
circumstances  will  appear  too  trifling  to  claim  the  attention  of  the 
governor  or  the  town,  but  the  hopes  of  defeating  the  designs  of  their 
enemy s,  and  an  earnest  desire  to  stand  fair  in  the  mind  of  their 
Sovereign  and  his  ministry  as  well  as  their  friends  &  all  good  men  at 
home  especially  at  this  Juncture  :  they  hope  will  excuse  their  giving 
you  this  trouble —  I  am 
Sir 

Your  most  humble  servant 

James  Otis 
P  :  S:  The  Town  have  passed  P  Order  of  the  Committee 

a  Vote  to  reimburst  any 
charge  in  your  conducting 
this  Affair 

[727.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  1st.  Day  of 
December  Anno  Domini  1766. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -  read 

The  Inhabitants  withdrew  and  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a 
Moderator  of  this  Meeting  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 
the  Honourable  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  by  a  great  ma- 
jority   

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant.  Viz*. —  "That  the  Sense  of  the 
"  Inhabitants  may  be  taken  respecting  a  Bill  now  pending  in  the 
"House  of  Representatives,  entitled,  An  Act  for  granting  compen- 
"  sation  to  the  Sufferers  and  of  free  and  general  pardon,  Indemnity 
"  and  Oblivion  to  the  Offenders  in  the  late  Times"  was  read,  and  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1766.  195 

Bill  laid  before  the  Town  for  its  consideration  :  and  the  Town 
apprehending  said  Bill  to  be  agreable  to  his  Majest}7s  gracious 
Hetommen'lation — Voted,  that  the  Representatives  be  and  they 
hereby  are  Instructed  to  use  their  Endeavors  to  the  passing  of  said 
Bill  into  a  Law  for  the  several  purposes  therein  mentioned 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  —  Mr.  Samuel  Adams, 
John  Rowe  and  John  Hancock  Esqrs.  were  appointed  a  Committee 
to  consider  of  an  Address  to  Cap'.  Lewis  Gideon  Esq.  and  having 
Reported  the  following  Vote  was  come  into 

Whereas  John  Lewis  Gideon  Esq  Commander  of  His  Majestys 
Ship  Jamaica,  has  upon  all  occasions  during  his  station  here,  for 
about  three  Years  past,  discovered  a  readiness  to  do  every  thing 
in  his  power  for  promoting  the  Interest  of  the  Province,  and  of  his 
Town  in  particular,  and  by  his  behavior  and  good  services  has 
given  great  satisfaction  to  the  Town* 

Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and 
[738.]  hereby  are  given  to  the  said  John  Lewis  Gideon  Esq.  for 
his  aforesd.  services  during  his  Station  here,  and  the  Honourable 
James  Otis  Esq.  John  Rowe  Esq.  John  Hancock  Esq.  Mr.  Samuel 
Adams  Esq.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  are  desired  to  wait  upon  him 
and  in  the  Name  of  the  Town  present  him  with  their  Thanks,  and 
express  their  good  Wishes  for  his  safe  Voyage  and  Prosperity. 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Monday  the  8th.  Instant 
9  O'Clock  A  :  M : 

Monday  December  8th.  9  O'Clock  A:  M:  Met  according  to 
Adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  present  John  Lewis  Gideon  Esq. 
ihe  Compliments  of  the  Town  Reported  his  answer 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  "  That  the  Street  near 
the  Old  Salutation  Ferry  may  be  widened  "  was  read  and  considered 
—  whereupon  —  Voted,  that  this  Petition  be  referred  to  the  Gentle- 
men the  Selectmen,  for  them  to  act  thereon  as  they  may  think 
proper 

The  Moderator  having  received  a  Letter  from  a  number  of  the 
Merchants  of  New  York  respecting  the  present  Incumbrances  on 
Trade  by  means  of  some  late  Acts  of  Parliament  and  other  Regula- 
tions, did  agreable  to  their  desire  lay  the  same  before  the  Town, 
which  was  read  to  the  Inhabitants  by  the  Town  Clerk 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for  dis- 
patching the  business  thereof 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


[729.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  others  Inhab- 
itants of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  public 
Town  Meeting  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesda}'  the  7th.  of  January 
Anno  Domini  17GG. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting      -----     read 
The  Inhabitants    withdrew   and   brought  in  their   Votes    for  a 
Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 
the  Honourable  Jame9  Otis,  Esq.  was  chosen 


196  City  Document  No.  88. 

The  Petition  of  Mess™.  Ephraim  &  Ebeuezer  Perry  setting  forth 
That  they  are  desirous  of  purchasing  or  otherwise  of  hiieing  a  peice 
of  the  Town  Land  Just  without  the  Fortification  Gates  on  the 
South  Eastern  side  of  the  Neck,  untill  it  comes  to  the  Land  Leased 
to  Mr.  Sutton  Byles,  together  with  the  Flatts  so  far  as  low  "Water 
Mark  —  also  proposing  to  Erect  a  Dwelling  House,  Wharff  and 
other  Buildings  upon  said  Land,  provided  it  be  Leased  to  them  for 
a  number  of  Years,  on  such  terms  and  securitys  as  may  be  agreed 
upon  —  was  read,  and  after  debate  had  thereon 

Voted,  that  Thomas  Daws  Esq. 
Mr.  Ezekiel  Price 
Mr.  Jonathan  Amory 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
Mr.  John  Ballard 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
William  Phillips  Esq. 
be   and   hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  take  the  Petition 
under  consideration  and  Report  as  soon  as  may  be  what  they  Judge 
will  be  for  the  Interest  of  the  Town  in  this  Matter 

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant  (Viz1.)  "  Whether  the  Town  will 
appoint  a  Committee  to  treat  with  a -Committee  of  the  General 
Court,  relative  to  the  [730.]  Disposal  of  the  Towns  Interest  in  the 
Court  House,"  was  read  and  considered  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a 
Committee  for  the  purpose  mentioned  in  said  Clause 

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant  Viz*.  "  Whether  the  Town  will  be  at 
the  Expence  of  purchasing  a  new  Clock  for  the  Old  Brick  Church, 
the  present  being  represented  as  not  worth  reparing  "  - 
was  read  and  debate  bad  thereon  whereupon  —  Voted,  that  the 
Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  send  to 
England  for  a  Clock  at  the  Expence  of  the  Town 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  (Viz1.)  "'  What  shall  be  the  Tenor 
of  the  Votes,  Voted  by  the  Town  at  their  late  Meeting  to  be  given 
by  the  Treasurer  to  the  Tradesmen  who  repaired  Faneuil  Hall  for 
the  balance  of  their  Accounts  "  was  read  and  considered  —  where- 
upon 

Voted,  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  and  hereby  is  impowerd  and 
directed  to  give  said  Tradesmen  negotiable  Notes  of  the  common 
Tenor,  payable  on  demand,  with  lawful  Interest  untill  paid 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that  the  rest  of 
Faneuil  Hall  Tradesmens  Accounts  be  drawn  for  so  soon  as  liqui- 
dated  

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Honourable  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for 
dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 

End  of  Fourth  Book  of  Town  Records. 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  1767.  197 


[VOL.   V.   OF   THE  ORIGINAL  BOOKS.] 

[1.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  Public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  ninth 
Day  of  March  Anno  Domini  1767. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Mr.  Mather. 
Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -     -     -     -     read. 
Sundry  Laws  enjoin' d  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting,  were  accord- 
ingly read. 

The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting,  and  took  the  Oaths  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Governments  of  Connecticut  New  Hampshire 

and  Rhode  Island  as  required  by  an  Act  of  this  Province 

William  Cooper  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  Year  ensuing 
and  having  taken  the  Oath  respecting  the  receiving  and  paying 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments,  took  the  Oath  of  Office 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  Duty,  which  Oaths  were  Aclminis- 
tred  to  him  by  his  Honor  Foster  Hutchinson  Esq. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  Seven  Selectmen,  and  the 
Votes  being  brought  in  and  sorted  it  appear'd  that 

Coll0.  Joseph  Jackson 

Samuel  Sewall  Esq. 

John  Ruddock  Esq. 

John  Hancock  Esq. 

William  Phillips  Esq. 

Mr.  Timothy  Newell 

John  Rowe  Esq. 

were  chose  Selectmen  for  the  Year  ensuing 

[2 .  ]  The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Overseers 
of  the  Poor  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

The  Honble.  James  Pitts  Esq.  excused 

Melatiah  Bourn  Esq.  d°. 

Isaac  Smith  Esq.  d°. 

Mr.  William  Whitwell  Sworn 

Mr.  Jonathan  Mason  excused 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches  d°. 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Storer  d°. 

Mr.  William  Greanleaff  Sworn 

William  White  Esq.  d°. 

Mr.  Edward  Payne  excused 

Mr.  Joseph  Waldo  Sworn 

Benjamin  Austin  Esq.                         excused 
were  chose  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing ■ 


198  City  Document  No.  88. 

Isaac  Smith  Esq.  Melatiab  Bourn  Esq.  and  Mr.  Henderson 
Inches  having  excused  themselves  from  serving  as  Overseers  of 

the  Poor  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  the  above  named  Gentlemen  for  their  faithful  services 

as  Overseers  of  the  Poor  a  number  of  Years  past 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  County  Treasurer  which 
were  sealed  up  and  delivered  to  Mr.  Constable  Barbour  to  be  re- 
turned to  the  Court  of  Sessions 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  "Wardens,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Joseph  Scott  Esq. 
Cap*.  John  Bradford 
Mr.  Ephraim  May 
[3.]  Mr.  Nathan  Spear 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Wales 
Mr.  Joseph  Waldo 
Mr.  James  Barrick  (excused) 
Mr.  John  Preston 
Mr.  Edward  Grant 
Mr.  Joseph  How 
Mr.  Samuel  Torrey 
Mr.  Daniel  Hubbard  (excused) 
were  chose  Wardens  for  the  Year  ensuing —  &  all  sworn 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  the  Question  was  accord- 
ingly put  —  Whether  Constables  and  Collectors  of  Taxes,  shall  be 

chose  sepperate  —  Passed  in  the  Affermative 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Five  Pounds  be  Remitted  out  of  the  Ten 
Pound  Fine  to  such  Persons  as  shall  be  chose  into  the  Office  of 

Constables  for  the  Year  ensuing  and  shall  decline  serving 

The  Town  brought  in   their  Votes  for  twelve  Constables,  the 
Persons  chose  into  that  Office,  and  also  sworn  are 
Mess".  Augustus  Hail 
Francis  Salmon 
Peter  Barbour 
Edward  Baker 
Hezekiah  Usher 
Benjamin  Clark 
Benjamin  Adams 
Lindsey  George  Wallis 
"William  Rogers 
Daniel  Berry 
John  Gabriel 
Edward  Brazier 
[4.]     Voted  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Three  O'Clock 
P:"M: 

3  O'Clock  P :  M  :  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 
The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Sixteen  Fire-Wards,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Newman  Grenough  Esq. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Mr.  William  Cooper 


Boston  Town  Records,  1767.  199 

Mr.  John  Mico  Wendell 
Coll°.  Thomas  Marshall 
"William  Homes  Esq. 
Mr.  Joseph  Tyler 
Jonathan  Williams  Esq. 
Cap*.  Aclino  Paddock 
Mr.  James  Richardson 
Cap*.  William  Downe  Cheever 
Cap*.  Benjamin  Waldo 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
Mr.  Francis  Shaw  (excused) 
Cap4.  Martin  Gay 
were  chose  Fire-Wards  for  the  Year  ensuing. 


The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  twelve  Clerks  of  the  Mar- 
ket, and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 
Mess".  Joseph  Webb 

Steven  Cleverly 
John  Lowell 
Ziphion  Thayer 
John  Simkins 
James  Bridgham 
[5.]  Nathaniel  Balch 

Thomas  Knight 
Joseph  Edwards  Junr. 
William  Baker  Junr. 
Thomas  Chase 
Joshua  Gardner 

were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mess".  Timothy  Newell 
Gershon  Flogg 

were  chose  Wardens  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Town  Treasurer,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that  Mr.  David  Jeffries  was  chosen, 
and  having  taken  the  Oath  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments,  took  the  Oath  of  Office 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  Duty,  which  Oaths  were  adminis- 
trecl  to  him  by 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  respecting  the  Monys 
due  to  the  Town  from  the  present  and  late  Collectors  of  Taxes, 
was  read,  and  debate  had  thereon,  whereupon 
Voted,  that,  Mr.  Edward  Payne 

Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 
Mr.  Ezekiel  Price 
Mr.  Nicholas  Boylstone 
Mr.  John  Amory 
be  a  Committee  to  enquire  of   the   Province  County  and  Town 
Treasurers  what  Moneys  are  due  to  them  from  the  present  and 
late  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  this  Town,  to  Report  as  soon  as  may 

be 

Voted,  that  the  Consideration  of  School  Masters  Salarys,  and  all 
other  Salarys  and  Grants,  be  referred  over  to  next  May  Meet- 
ing  


200  City  Document  No.  88. 

[6.]  The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  "  that  a  Master 
may  be  ehosen  for  the  North  Grammar  School"  was  read,  and 
debate  had  thereon,  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  on  behalf  of  the 
Town  to  make  choice  of  a  Gentleman  out  of  the  Candidates  that 
shall  offer  themselves,  as  they  may  most  approve  of  as  a  Master 
for  said  School 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz4.  ' '  Whether  the  Town  will  take 
any  Measures  for  the  relief  of  Mr.  Peleg  Wiswell,  late  Master  of 
the  North  Grammar  School  who  has  resigned  on  account  of  his 
Age  and  great  Infermities "  was  read  and  considered,  where- 
upon, 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  and  hereby  is 
granted  Mr.  Peleg  Wiswell,  for  his  support  the  ensuing  year 

Adjourned  to  Monday  next  Ten  O'Clock  A  :  M  : 

Monday  March  16  10  °'Clock  P :  M  :  Met  according  to  Adjourn- 
ment  

Major  James  Cunningham 
was  chosen  a  Fire- Ward  for  the  Year  ensuing  ■■ 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Five  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 

The  Honble.  Royal  Tyler  Esq.  Sworn 

John  Barrett  Esq.  .  d°. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Dolbear  d°. 

Melatiah  Bourn  Esq.  Excused 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches  d°. 

were  chose  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  the  Question  [7.]  Was  put 
—  viz'.  "Whether  the  Town  will  adhere  to  that  Clause  in  their 
Instructions  given  their  Representatives  in  May  last,  Viz'.  "And 
for  the  total  abolishing  of  Slavery  among  us  that  you  move  for  a 
Law  to  prohibit  the  Importation  and  purchasing  of  Slaves  for 
the  future "  which  Question  passed  in  the  Affermative,  Nem. 
Con. 

The  Committee  appointed  on  the  Ninth  Instant  to  enquire  of 
the  Province,  County  and  Town  Treasurers  what  Moneys  are  due 
to  them  from  the  present  and  late  Collector  of  Taxes  for  this 
Town  —  Report 

That  having  carefully  examined  the  Accounts  received  from  the 
several  Treasurers  there  appears  to  be  due  from  the  Collectors  of 
Taxes  after  deducting  £2396  ,,  2  ,,  4£  for  Abatements  made 
them  in  the  years  1763  —  1764 — 1765 — the  following  Sums  — 

Viz'. 

John  Ruddock  Esq.  to  the  Town  Treasurer  for 

1763  £264,,  18  „    8£ 

Balance  of  the  Street  Tax     115  ,,  19  ,,    3 


£380,,  17  „  11£ 
From  which  when  paid  is  to  be  deducted  his 
Premium  being £126  ,,  7  ,,  3  — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1767.  201 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams  to  the  Province  Treasurer  for 

1763  £291,,  17  „    3 

To  ditto  for        -         -         -•      -         -        1764     2009,,    8„    8 


To  the  Town  Treasurer  1764     £1633  ,,  13  ,,  4£ 
Balance  of  the  Street  Tax  94  ,,    8  ,,  6 


£2301  „ 
1728,, 


5„11 

1  „  10£ 


From  which  when  paid  is  to  be  deducted  his 
Premium  for  Collecting  1762  — 1763  — & 
1764  — being  £382  ,,  10  ,,    l£ 


£4029  „    7  „    9£ 


Jonathan   Payson  Esq.    to') 

the  Province    Treasurer  V     £740  ,,  19  ,,      8 

for    1765         -  -    ) 

To  Ditto    -         -  1766      -   '      1034  ,,    5  ,,    10 


To  the  County  Treasurer  1765      £55  „  15  ,,    10 
To  Ditto         -         -       -1766      123  ,,  T5  ,,    10 


£1775,, 
179,, 


5„    6 
11  „    8 


[8.]     Brought  over 
To  the  Town  Treasurer  1764 
To  Ditto        -        -         1765 
To  Ditto        -        -  1766 


From  which  when  paid  is  to 
be  deducted  his  Premiums 
for  1764  —  1765  —  1766  — 

Mr.  Sampson  Salter  to  the 
Province  Treasurer       1765 

To  Ditto        -        -  1766 

To  the  County  Treasurer  1766 
To  the  Town  Treasurer  1766 


From  which  when  paid  is  to 
be  deducted  his  Premiums 
for  1765  &  1766  — 

Mr.  Samuel  Ruggles  to  the 
Province  Trea8r.  1765 

To  Ditto        -        -  1766 


£97       

1140,,  17  „  — 
1174  „  14  „    3- 


£1954,, 
£1954  ,, 


17  „    2 
17  „    2 


2342,,  11  „    3 
£4297,,    8  ,,    5 


£898,,  11  „    3 
1186,,  19  ,,    3 


£2085,, 

200,, 
966  ,, 


10  „    6 
12,"    9 


jLrOidOO    ,  ,        O    ,  ,        d 


£360  ,,    5  „ 
1195  ,,  12  ,, 


£1555,,  17  „    9 


202  City  Document  No.  88. 

To  the  County  Treasurer  1765        £18,,    8  ,,  10 
ToDitto         -         -  1766        245,,  —  ,,— 

263  „    8  ,,  10 

To  the  Town  Treasurer  1766         -        -        -        1202  ,,  11  ,,  — 


£3021  „  17 


From  which  when  paid  is  to 

be  deducted  his  Premiums 

for  1765  &  1766  — 
Mr.  Edward  Hollyday  to  the 

Province    Treasurer     1765      £281  ,,    1 
ToDitto         -         -  1766      1165  ,,  12 


£1446  „  14  „    3 

To  the  County  Treasurer  1766         -         -         -  241  ,,    7  ,,    2 

To  the  Town  Treasurer  1766         -         -         -         1222,,    2  ,,    9 


£2910,,    4„    2 


From  which  when   paid  is  to 

be  deducted   his  Premium 

for  1765  &  1766  — 

[9.]     These  several  Sums  due  from  the  Collectors  amount  to 
to  £17891  ,,  19  ,,  2  from   which  may  be  deducted  the  Sum   of 
£9958  ,,  14  ,,  1  for  what  remains  unpaid  of  the  Tax  for  1766,  and 
there  will  then  remain  in  the  following  Collectors  hands  a  balann 
of  £7933  ,,  5  ,,  1  which  by  Law  ought  to  have  been  paid 


several  -treasurers  long 

since  —  v  iz\  — 

John  Ruddock  Esq     - 

for  the  taxes  in 

1763   - 

£380  ,,  17  ,, 

ii 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams    - 

-    Ditto   -     - 

1764  - 

4029  „    7  „ 

94 

Jonathan  Payson  Esq. 

-    Ditto   -     - 

1765  - 

1964  ,,  12  ,, 

6 

Mr.  Sampson  Salter  - 

-    Ditto   -     - 

1765  - 

898  „  11  „ 

3 

Mj.  Samuel  Ruggles  - 

-    Ditto  -    - 

1765  - 

378  ,,  13  „ 

11 

Mr.  Edward  Hollyday 

-    Ditto  -     - 

1765  - 

281  ,,     1  „ 

8 

x  / y do  j^    o  ■)} 

0| 

N  3.  Mess".  Salter  Ruggles  and  Hollyday  have  made  -  -  con- 
siderable Payments  to  the  Town  Treasurer  on  Accounts  of  the 
Tax  for  1766 

Since  the  above  Accounts  were  received  there  has  been  paid  into 

the  Town  Treasurer 

By  Edward  Hollyday     -         -         -         -         £12  „  9  „  3 
By  Jonathan  Payson  Esq.      -         -         -  2  ,,  0  .,  7 

The  above  Report  having  been  read  and  Considered  it  was 
Voted  tLat  the  same  be  accepted 

It  was  then  moved  and  seconded  that  the  Bonds  given  by  John 
Ruddock  Esq.  a  late  Collector  of  Taxes  to  Mr.  David  Jeffries 
Treasurer  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  Duty  &°.  might  be  put  in 
Suit  and  the  Question  being  accordingly  put  -  -  -  Passed  in 
the  Affermative 

A  Motion  of  the  like  nature  with  the  above  was  made  and  sec- 
onded respecting  the  Bonds  given  by  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  a  late 


Boston  Town  Records,  1767.  203 

Collector  of  Taxes,  and  the  Question  being  put  —  Whether  said 
Bonds  shall  be  put  in  Suit         -         -         Passed  in  the  Afferma- 

tive 

It  was  also  moved  and  seconded,  that  the  Bonds  given  by 
[10.]  Jonathan  Payson  Esq.  a  late  Collector  of  Taxes  to  Mr. 
David  Jeffries  Treasurer  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  Duty  &c. 

might  be  likewise  put  in  Suit  —  Passed  in  the  Affermative ■ 

Upon  a  Motion   made   and   seconded,    Voted,    that   the   Suits 

against  the  several  Collectors  be  put  off  to  July  term 

It  was  also  Voted  that  the  Town  Treasurer  do  not  prosecute  any 
of  those  Collectors  Bonds  untill  the  20'\  of  May  next  ensuing, 

unless  any  of  their  Bondsmen  should  desire  it 

Voted,  that  Foster  Hutchinson  Esq. 

Mr.  Edward  Payne 

Mr.  Ezekiel  Price 
be  a  Committee  to  take  into  Consideration  what  Premium  snail  be 
allowed  the  Collectors  of  Taxes,  and  the  terms  upon  which  they 

shall  be  entitled  to  the  same —  to  Report  this  Meeting 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Seven  Assessors, 
and  upon  sorting  them  it  appear'd  that 

Mr.  William  Fairfield 

Mr.  John  Kneeland 

Mr.  Benjamin  Church 

Belcher  Noyes  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Torrey 

Mr.  Jonathan  Brown 

Mr.  Daniel  Pecker 
were  chosen  Assessors  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Messrs.  William  Nichols 

Andrew  Symms  sworn 

[11.]  Clement  Collins  Sworn 

Henry  Alline  d°. 

Isaac  Vergoose  d°. 

John  Grenough  d°. 

Jacob  Thayer  d°. 

Joseph  Edmunds  d°. 

John  Skillins  d°. 

John  Sergeant  d°. 

Richard  Walker  d°. 

John  Champney  d°. 

Samuel  Turner  d°. 

were  chose  Surveyors  of  Boards  and  Shingles  for  the  Year  ensu- 
ing. 

Mr.  John  Gray 
was  chosen  Surveyor  of  Hemp  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mess".  Samuel  Dyer      -  Sworn 

John  Dyer 

Obediah  Low  d°. 

John  Joy 

William  Crafts  d°. 

were  chose- Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing 
Mess",  Ebenezer  McIntosh 


204  City  Document  No.  88. 

Samuel  Bangs 

William  Andrews  (all  sworn) 

John  Shepherd 

William  Stevenson 

were  chose  Sealers  of  Leather  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mess".  Nathaniel  Gardner 
Samuel  Whitwell 

were  chose  Informers  of  Deer  for  the  Year  ensuing 

[12.]     Messr 


Peter  Cotta 

Sworn 

Manesseh  Masters 

d°. 

Joseph  Dyer 
John  Harskins 

David  Spear 
Nathan  Spear 
Jonathan  Jenkins 

Robert  Breck  Junr. 

Job  Wheelwright 

Joshua  Pico 

Benjamin  Salt 
Paul  Baxter 

-    d°. 

John  Owen 

d°. 

Thomas  Knox 

d°. 

Samuel  White 

d°. 

Edward  Cowell 

d°. 

Edward  Potter 

Peter  Ellis 

d°. 

Timothy  Pease 
Nathaniel  Waterman 

cl°. 
d°. 

Jacob  Williams 

d°. 

two  more 
were  chose  Cullers  of  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess".  David  Simans 
Thomas  Curtis 
were  chose  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mr.  Edward  Curtis      -  (Sworn) 

was  chosen  Hayward  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Selectmen 
were  chose  Surveyers  of  High  Ways  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
[13.]  Coll0.  Joseph  Jackson 

William  Phillips  Esq. 
William  Homes  Esq. 
were  chose  Purchasers  of  Grain  for  the  Year  ensuing,  and  they  are 
desired  and  impowered  to  give  all  needful  Directions  to  the  Keeper 
of  the  Granary  respecting  the  Quantity  of  Grain  to  be  sold,  and 
Affixing  the  price  thereof  from  Time  to  Time  as  occasion  shall  re- 
quire  

Cap4.  Martin  Gay 
Mr.  John  Skinner 
were  chose  Assay  Masters  for  the  Year  ensuing  — — 
John  Tuder  Esq. 
Mr.  John  White 
were  chose  Surveyers  of  Wheat  for  the  Year  ensuing 


Boston  Town  Eecoeds,  1767.  205 

Adjourned  to  3  O 'Clock  P :  M  : 

3  O'Clock  P  :  M  :    Met  according  to  Adjournment 

The  Selectmen  Reported  on  the  Accompt  of  Mr.  Benjamin 
Fenno  Keeper  of  the  Granary  for  the  Year  past,  which  Accompt 
as  entered  in  his  Books  (and  on  file  in  the  Town  Clerks  Office)  was 
read ;  whereupon  it  was  Voted,  the  same  be  accepted  and 
that  Mr.  Fenno  be  accountable  to  the  Town  for  580  Bushels  of 
Indian  Meal,  and  15  Bushels  of  Rye  Meal  amounting  to  £008  ,, 
11  ,,  8,  and  also  for  the  sum  of  £215  ,,  9  ,,  7  |  Cash  now  in  his 
hands  exclusive  of  ye  Sum  of  £32  ,,13  ,,4  for  his  Salary  and 
Assistance  as  charged  in  his  Accompt  which  is  hereby  allowed 
him 

Voted,  that  Mr.  Thomas  Gray 

Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 
Mr.  Moses  Gill 

[14.]  Mr.  John  Boylstone 

Jonathan  Williams  Esq. 
be  and  they  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the 
Accompts  of  Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries,  and  also  the  Accompts  of  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  the  said  Committee  are  enjoin'd  to  in- 
spect every  particular  Accompt  of  the  Moneys  Expended  for  the 
use  of  the  Almshouse  ;  they  are  also  impowered  when  they  shall  Au- 
dit said  Accompts  to  allow  such  of  the  Overseers  as  shall  Advance 
Moneys  for  the  Relief  of  the  Poor,  Interest  on  all  such  Sums 
from  the  Time  so  Advanced,  till  they  shall  have  Audited  said 
Accompts 

A  Motion  was  made  and  seconded  to  reconsider  the  Vote  of  the 
Forenoon  for  putting  John  Ruddock  Esq.  Bond  in  Suit  where- 
upon   

Voted,  that  Mr.  Ruddocks  Bond,  be  not  put  in  Suit  for  the  present, 
but  referred  for  further  Consideration  untill  the  General  Town 
Meeting  in  May  next,  when  the  Committee  are  desired  to  Report 
again  thereon 

Voted  that  Faneuil  Hall  be  Illuminated  on  Wednesday  the  18th. 
of  this  Instant  March  in  commemoration  of  the  Repeal  of  the  Stamp 
Act,  on  said  18th.  Day  of  March  176G  and  that  the  Selectmen  be 
desired  to  make  provision  for  drinking  his  Majestys  Health  &c 

Voted,  that  the  Inhabitants  be  desired  to  give  Order  to  their 
Servants  not  to  enkindle  Bonfires  in  the  Streets  &c  as  it  is  the  deter- 
mination of  the  Town  that  all  Offenders  of  this  sort  shall  be  prose- 
cuted  

The  Committee  Appointed  in  the  Forenoon  to  Consider  what 
Premium  shall  be  allowed  the  Collectors  of  Taxes,  and  the  Terms 
upon  which  they  shall  be  intitled  to  the  same  —  Reported,  where- 
upon 

[15.]  Voted,  that  the  Vote  passed  on  Monday  last  relating  the 
Premium  to  be  Allowed  the  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  present 
Year  be  reconsidered,  and  that  the  Sum  of  Nine  Pence  on  the 
Pound  be  and  hereby  is  allowed  to  such  Persons  as  shall  be  chose 
Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  present  Year,  provided  they  pay  into 
the  several  Treasuries  the  whole  Sum  committed  to  them  to  Collect 
ou  or  before  the  second  Monday  in  March  17G9,  and  in  case  the 


206  City  Document  No.  88. 

same  Collectors  shall  pay  in  one  half  of  the  Sums  of  Money  com- 
mitted to  them  to  Collect  for  the  present  Year  by  the  10th.  Day  of 
July  1708,  that  then  the  Sum  of  twelve  Pence  on  the  Pound  be 
Allowed  and  paid  to  such  of  the  Collectors  as  shall  pay  in  that 
proportion  of  the  said  Tax.  Aud  in  case  the  whole  of  the  said 
Tax  shall  not  be  paid  in  by  the  said  second  Monday  in  March 
1709.  then  and  in  that  case  only  the  Sum  of  Three  Pence  on  the 
Pound  be  allowed  aud  paid  unto  such  Delinquent  Collectors  of  the 
said  Tax.  Provided  also  that  each  of  said  Collectors  give  Bond 
with  sufficient  Sureties  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen  for  the 
faithful  discharge  of  their  Duty,  and  complying  with  this  Vote. 
And  that  the  Assesors  be  directed  not  to  deliver  the  Books  contain- 
ing the  Tax  for  the  Year  1767  to  the  Collectors  unless  they  have 
discharged  &  paid  into  the  several  Treasurers  the  Tax  for  the 
Year  1705 

Voted,  that  the  Assessors  be  and  hereby  are  Impowered  and 
directed  to  set  for  the  Abatements  of  such  Taxes  as  they  shall 
Judge  reasonable  on  every  Thursday  till  the  first  Thursdaj'  in 
April  inclusive,  and  no  longer,  saving  that  they  be  allowed  to  set 
the  two  last  Weeks  in  November  for  the  Abatement  of  the  Taxes 
of  such  Persons  as  had  not  an  Opportunity  of  applying  on  the 
above  limitted  Time,  by  reason  of  their  being  out  of  the  Province  ; 
at  which  Time  they  are  also  allowed  and  impowered  to  abate  the 
Taxes  of  such  Persons  as  may  have  died  Insolvent  between  the 
said  last  Thursday  in  April  and  the  last  Day  of  November. 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  for  the  paving  that 
part  of  Leaveret  Street  leading  from  Mr.  Salters  House  into  Water 
[16.]  Street,  was  read  and  considered,  wrhereupon  Voted  that  the 
Town  be  at  One  third  the  Expence  of  paving  said  Street,  provided 
the  whole  Pavement  is  compleated  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Select- 
men   

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  (Viz1)  Whether  that  part  of  Water 
Street  running  from  Leaveret  Street  into  Kilby  Street  shall  be 
repaird  and  paved  was  read  &  considered,  whereupon 

Voted,  that  this  Matter  be  left  to  the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen 
to  do  therein  as  they  may  think  proper 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Four  Collectors  of 
Taxes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 
Mr.  Sampson  Salter 
MT.  Edward  Holly  day 
Mr.  Samuel  Ruggles 
Nathaniel  Coffin  Esq. 
were  chose  into  that  Office 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  (Viz1)  "And  in  what  manner  the 
Town  will  acknowledge  the  Receipt  of  Coll0  Barres  Picture  "  was 
read  whereupon 

Voted  that  the  Honb]e  James  Otis  Esq. 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 
John  Erving  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  take  this  Matter  into  Consideration  and  Re- 
ported at  the  Adjournment  — —  ■ 


Boston  Town  Records,  1767.  207 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  (Viz')  "  To  know  the  Mind  of  the 
Inhabitants  with  respect  to  the  late  HonbIe  Thomas  Hancock  Esq. 

[17.]  Donation  for  a  Bedlam"  was  read — whereupon 

Voted,  that  The  Honble  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
Foster  Hutchinson  Esq. 
Nicholas  Boylston  Esq. 
John  Erving  Esq. 
John  Barrett  Esq. 
Ezekiei  Goldthwait  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  take  this  Matter  into  Consideration  and  Report 

at  the  Adjournment 

Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hei'eby 
are  given  to  Mr.  Ebenezer  Storer  for  his  faithful  Services  as  an 

Overseer  of  the  Poor  a  number  of  Years  past 

Adjourned  to  Monday  the  23d  of  this  lust.  March  10.  O'Clock 
A:  M: 

Met  according  to  Adjournment  23d  March  10  O'Clock  A  :  M : 
The  Committee  relative  to  a  Bedlam  Reported  and  had  leave  to 

Report  again  at  the  Meeting  in  May  next 

•  The  Committee  relative  to  Coll0  Barres  Picture  Reported  and  had 
the  leave  of  the  Town  to  Report  again  at  the  General  Town  Meet- 
in  May  next 

Mess™.  Caleb  Champney 
Nathaniel  Cobbet 
John  Wells        -------     Sworn 

Richai'd  Bradford  ------         d°. 

Joshua  Davis     -------         d°. 

James  Bavley    -------         d°. 

[18.]  William  Warland 

John  Martyn Sworn 

Isaac  Bird     -- -         d°. 

Andrew  Boardman 

John  Crosby     -------         d°. 

Benjamin  Jepson -         d°. 

were  chose  Scavingers  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given 
to  Mr.  Joseph  Gardner,  and  Mr.  Jonathan  Mason  for  their  faithful 
services  as  Overseers  of  the  Poor  a  number  of  Years  Past — : — 
The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Four  Overseers  of  the  Poor, 

and  upon  sorting  them  it  appered  that 

John  Leverett  Esq. 
John  Gore  Esq. 
Jonathan  Williams  Esq. 
Cap'.  Samuel  Partridge 

1  more 
were  chose  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  year  ensuing. 

The  Petition  of  Mr.  Abiah  Holbrook'  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  the  Common  "that  he  may  be  further  Considered  for 
his  extraordinary  services  by  an  Allowance  to  the  Person  who 
Acts  as  Usher  under  him,  also  with  respect  to  his  Taxes  "  was 
read  —  whereupon 


208  City  Document  No.  88. 

Voted,  that  Mr.  Samuel  Adams 

HonbIe.  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
Mr.   Thomas  Gray 
Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  Consider  the  same  and  Report  at  the  General 
Town  Meeting  in  May  next 

[19.]  It  was  moved  that  the  Vote  passed  by  the  Town  the 
Ninth  Instant  respecting  a  Schoolmaster  for  the  North  Grammar 
School  may  be  reconsidered,  and  the  Question  being  accordingly 
put —  Passed  in  the  Affermative 

Voted,  that  the  choice  of  a  Master  for  the  North  Grammar 
School  be  referred  to  May  Meeting,  and  that  the  same  be  made  an 
Article  in  the  Warrant  for  calling  said  Meeting 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  one  Overseer  of  the  Poor 
and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Thomas  Tyler  Esq. 

was  chosen  an  Overseer  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mess".  Samuel  Bernard 
John  Newell 
were  chose  Cullers  of  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  Consideration  the  Peti- 
tion of  Ephraim  and  Ebenezer  Perry  —  Reported,  That  having 
considered  the  same  and  view'd  the  Land  mentioned  in  said  Peti- 
tion, are  of  Opinion;  that  the  Town  Lease  to  said  Ephraim  and 
Ebenezer  for  the  term  of  Ninety  nine  Years,  a  peice  of  Land 
Just  without  the  Fortification  Gates  on  the  South  East  side  of  the 
Neck  Three  hundred  Feet  in  the  Front  on  said  Neck  from  the 
North  East  side  of  the  Towns  Lands  leased  to  Sutton  Byles,  and 
three  hundred  feet  in  the  Rear,  the  Depth  to  run  on  a  Parrallel 
Line  from  the  Land  Leased  to  said  Byles  to  the  Point  of  the 
Bastian  of  said  Fortification  —  They  the  said  Ephraim  and  Eben- 
ezer to  pay  as  Rent  therefor  One  Pound  Sterling  p  Annum  —  The 
Committee  further  Report  that  the  Lessees  be  obliged  to  Erect  a 
Dam  or  Wharff  from  the  Land  Leased  to  said  Byles  to  the  Point 
of  said  Bastian  sufficient  to  keep  out  the  Sea  or  Salt  Water ;  and 
that  the  Lessees  be  obliged  to  keep  that  part  of  said  Dam  or  Wharff 
which  includes  the  Rear  of  their  Land  in  good  Repair  during  their 
Lease  — Also  that  the  [20.]  Outside  work  of  One  Dwelling  House 
two  Story  high,  —  also  the  Wharff  or  Dam  aforesaid  be  built  and 
finished  within  two  Years  from  the  date  of  the  Lease — And  that 
the  Lessees  be  obliged  to  keep  the  front  Wall  before  said  Land  in 
good  repair.  The  Committee  are  also  of  Opinion  that  the  Cost  of 
the  Timber  which  shall  be  used  in  Erecting  the  Wharff  or  Dam 
which  extends  from  the  Northeast  Corner  of  said  Leased  Land  to 
the  Point  of  said  Bastian  be  paid  by  the  Town.  And  leave  the 
whole  Premisses  in  tenantahle  repair  at  the  expiration  of  the 
Lease 

The  above  Repoi  t  having  been  Considered  —  the  Question  was  put 
Whether  the  same  be  accepted  —  Passed  in  the  Afferm-itive 

Voted  that  Thomas  Daws  Esq. 
John  Hill  Esq. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1767.-  209 

Mr.  Ezekiel  Price 
Mr.  Robert  Pierpoiut 
Mr.  John  Ballard 
be  a  Committee  to  view  the  Lands  belonging  to  the  Town  on  each 
side  of  the  Neck  and  if  necessary  cause  a  survey  thereof  to  be 
taken  and  consider  of  the  best  method  for  the  Town  to  take  in 
regard  to  said  Lands,  and  to  Report  to  the  Selectmen  sometime 
before  the  next  May  Meeting,  that  so  the  same  may  be  inserted  in 
the  Warrant  for  calling  said  Meeting. 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  (Viz1.)  ''Whether  the  Town  will 
extend  Mr.  Enoch  Browns  Lease  of  a  small  Peice  of  Land  on  Bos- 
ton Neck,  beyond  the  Time  limitted  in  a  late  Vote  "  was  read,  and 
after  debate  had  thereon 

Voted,  that  the  further  consideration  thereof  be  referred  to  the 
General  Town  Meeting  in  May  next 

On  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  —  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen 
be  a  Committee  to  request  of  Mr.  John  Lovel  Master  of  the  South 
Grammar  School,  that  he  would  take  under  his  tuition,  those 
Scholars  of  the  North  Grammar  School  who  may  be  sent  to  his 
School  by  their  Parents,  untill  a  Master  is  provided  for  said 
School 

[21.]  The  Petition  of  Mr.  David  Jeffries,  "  that  he  may  be 
allowed  for  a  peice  of  Land  laid  into  the  public  Street,  but 
omitted  in  the  admeasurement  and  Plan  of  Lands  becoming  va- 
cant by  Fire  1760,  was  read,  whereupon  Voted  that 

Thomas  Daws  Esq. 
Onesip8.  TilestonEsq. 
Cap*.  Benjamin  Andrews 
be  a  Committee  to  View  said  Lands  and  Report  their  Opinion  of 
the  value  thereof  next  May  Meeting 

That  Article  in  the  Warr*.  Viz'.  "  To  consider  what  is  proper  to 
be  done  with  the  Pavement  near  the  Fortification"  was  read, 
whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  order  the  necessary 
Repairs  on  the  part  of  the  Town,  so  soon  as  the  Proprietors  of 
the  Land  abutting  have  fulfilled  their  Obligation  respecting  the 
same 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that 
Mr.  Robert  Pierpoiut 
Mr.  Ephraim  May 
Mr.  William  Blake 
be  a  Committee  to  observe  and  prosecute  such  Persons  as  may 
take  Stones  from  the  Town  Wall  on  the  Neck. 

Six  Petit  Jurors  were  chose  for  April  Court  and  their  Names 
returned  by  oue  of  the  Constables 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  Things  which  remain  unfinished  at 
this  Meeting  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  General  Town 
Meeting  in  May  next,  to  be  then  considered  of  and  acted 
upon 

Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  the  IIonblc.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting,  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 


210  .     City  Document  No.  88. 

[22.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders,  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Tuesday  the  318t. 
Day  of  March  1767. 

"Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -     -     -     read 

The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting  by  a  Haud  Vote,  and  also  sworn  according  to  Law 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants  praying  that  a  good 
Master  may  be  immediately  appointed  for  the  North  Grammar 
School ;  and  that  for  his  encouragement  he  may  have  the  same 
Salary  as  the  Master  of  the  South  Grammar  School "  was  read, 
and  after  debate  had  thereon 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  that  the  choice  of  a  Master  for  the 
North  Grammar  Scbool  be  referred  over  to  the  Selectmen,  and 
that  they  be  desired  to  make  choice  of  a  proper  Gentleman  to 
supply  that  vacancy,  and  the  Question  being  accordingly  put  — 
Passed  in  the  Affermative 

It  was  further  Voted,  that  the  Clause  in  the  Petition  which 
relates  to  fixing  a  Salary  for  the  Master  of  the  North  Grammar 
School,  be  referred  over  to  May  Meeting,  then  to  be  Considered 
and  acted  upon 

That  Article  in  the  "Warrant  Viz'.  "  To  Consider  what  may  be 
the  proper  Measures  for  regulating  Faneuil  Hall  Market "  was 
read  and  Considered  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  shut  up  such  part  of 
the  Towns  Land  adjoining  to  Faneuil  Hall  Market  as  they  shall 
Judge  proper,  and  not  suffer  any  Person  to  enter  within  the  Rails 
for  the  Sale  of  any  kind  of  Provisions  unless  they  pay  such  an 
acknowledgement  to  the  Town  as  the  Selectmen  may  think  reason- 
able —  Also  that  it  be  recommended  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  not  to  purchase  any  Provisions  of  such  disorderly  Persons 
as  may  presume  to  stand  in  Dock  Square  or  the  Streets  round 
[23.]  Faneuil  Hall  Market —  and  that  the  above  Vote  be  printed 
and  dispersd  among  the  Inhabitants  in  hand  bills 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Clerk  of  Faneuil 
Hall  Market,  when  it  appeared  that 

Mr  Abijah  Adams 
was  chosen  Clerk  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen 
the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  take  such  Order  as  has  been  usual  to 
procure  Collections  for  the  Sufferers   in  the   late  Fire  from  the 

several  Congregations  in  this  Town 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  receive  the  several  Sums 
that  may  be  Collected  for  the  Sufferers  in  the  late  Fire,  and  dis- 
tribute the  same  together  which  such  other  Donations  as  may  be 
made  among  the  Sufferers  in  such  Proportions  as  they  may  Judge 

proper  

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted  that  the  Selectmen 
be  desired  to  give  Orders  that  no  Illegal  Weights  and  Measures 
may  be  suffered  within  Faneuil  Hall  Market  and  its  Limits ;  and 
also  that  they  be  desired  to  furnish  the  said  Market  with  a  suit- 
able number  of  true  Weights  aud  Measures  for  the  use  of  any 


Boston  Town  Records,  1767.  211 

Inhabitants  who  may  purchase  Provisions  in  said  Market,  during 
the  Market  Hours ;  and  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  consider 
what  further  Regulations,  may  be  necessary,  and  Report  at  the 
Geueral  Town  Meeting  in  May  next 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given 
to  the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for 
dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved 


[24.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  &  warned  in  public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Fryday  the  8th  Day  of  May 
Anno  Domini  1767. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Mr.  Andrew  Eliot 

The  Precept  and  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  -     -     -  read. 

Sundry  Laws  - read. 

Samuel  Sewall  Esq.  one  of  the  Selectmen  proposed  in  their 
Name  to  the  Inhabitants  Assembled  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of 
one  or  more  Persons  to  Represent  them  in  the  Great  and  General 
Court  or  Assembly  to  be  held  at  Boston  upon  Wednesday  the 
27th  Day  of  May  Current;  and  in  order  thereto  to  consider  and 
ascertain  the  Number  of  Gentlemen  to  be  Elected  ;  accordingly  it 
was  Voted  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of  Four  Representatives,  and 
then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen,  that  no  Vote,  will  be 
received  but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and  that  they  propose  the  Poll 
shall  be  closed  at  12  O'Clock. 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  the  Number  of  the  same  were 
found  to  be  618.  —  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that  the 

Four  following  Gentlemen  were  chose Viz*. 

The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  575 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  557 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams  574 

John  Hancock  Esq.  618 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen,  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw,  and  bring  in 
their  Votes  for  a  Moderator  of  th's  Meeting  in  order  that  the  Town 
may  proceed  in  transacting  the  other  Affairs  mentioned  in  the 
Warrant ;  according  [25.]  The  Inhabitants  withdrew  and  brought 
in  their  Votes,  and  upon  sotting  them  it  appeared  that  the  Honble. 
James  Otis  P2sq.  was  chosen  

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  3  O'Clock  P :  M : 


3  O'Clock  P :  M :  Met  according  to  Adjournment 


To  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  Bostou  in  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  May  8.  1767. 

Pursuant  to  a  Vote  of  the  Town  of  Boston  at  their  Annual 
Meeting  the  6th.  of  May  1766.  desiring  the  Selectmen  to  visit  the 
several  public  Schools  in  the  Town,  and  to  invite  such  Gentlemen 
to  accompany  them  therein  as  they  should  think  proper,  and  to 
Report  thereon 

We  the  Subscribers  accordingly  attended  that  service  on  Wednes- 


212  City  Document  No.  88. 

day  the  25th.  Day  of  Juue  last  accompanied  by  the  following  Gen- 
tlemen Viz1. 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq. 
Thomas  Flucker  Esq. 
Harrison  Gray  Esq. 
The  Representatives  of  the  Town 
The  Overseers  of  the  Poor 
The  Revd.  Joseph  Sewall.  D.  D. 
Charles  Chauncy  D.  D. 
Mr.  Samuel  Mather 
Mr.  Andrew  Elliot 
Mr.  Samuel  Cooper 
Mr.  Samuel  Checkley 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Pemberton 
Mr.  Mather  Byles 
The  Town  Treasurer 
Jonathan  Williams  Esq. 
A   number   of   other   Gentlemen 
[26.]  And  found  the  South  Grammar  School  had  145  Scholars  ; 
the  North  Grammar  School  M  Scholars  ;  the  South  Writing  School 
260  Scholars  ;  the  North  Writing  School  had  256  Scholars  ;  the  Writ- 
ing School  in  Queen  Street  222  Scholars,  all  in  very  good  order 

The  Consideration  of  that  Clause  in  the  Petition  of  a  Number  of 
Inhabitants  presented  the  Town  in  March  last,  relative  to  the  fixing 
a  Salarj"  for  the  Master  of  the  North  Grammar  School,  being  re- 
ferred over  to  this  Meeting,  was  accordingly  taken  up  by  the 
Town  ;  and  the  Question  being  put  (Viz1.)  u  Whether  said  Master 
shall  have  the  Sum  of  £120,,  —  allowed  him  as  Salary  for  one 
Year,  being  the  Same  Sum  which  is  allowed  the  Master  of  the 

South  Grammar  School  "  Passed  in  the  Negative 

Two  Letters  from  Dennis  Deberdt  Esq.  Agent  for  the  Town  on 
Cap1.  Malcombs  Affair,  were  laid  before  the  Town  by  the  Honble. 
James  Otis  Esq.  Chairman  of  the  Committee  for  Instructing  said 
Gentlem". 

The  Committee  relative  to  Coll0.  Barres  Picture  made  a  Verbal 
Report  —  whereupon  Voted  that  those  Gentlemen.  (Viz*.) 
James  Otis  Esq. 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Ezekiel  G old th wait  Esq. 
John  Erveing  Junr.  Esq. 
be  and  they  hereby  are  Appointed  a   Committee   to  write  a  Letter 
to  the  Honble.  Coll0.  Barr  informing  him  of  the  receipt  of  his  Picture, 
and  that  the  same  by  the  unanimous  Order  of  the  Town  is  placed 
in  Faneuil  Hall.     And  said  Committee  are  impower'd  and  directed 
to  engage  some  Person  to  write  to  his  Correspondent  in  London  to 
pay  to  Mr.  Duncan  Clark  or  the  Painter,  the  Cost  of  drawing  said 
Picture,  and  any  other  Expence  that  has  attended  the  same,  which 
Sum  the  Inhabitants  hereby  oblige  themselves  to  repay  and  reim- 
burse   

[27.]  Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  and  twenty 
Pounds,  be  allowed  and  paid  unto  Mr.  John  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as 


Boston  Town  Records,  1767.  213 

Master  of  the  South  Grammar  School,  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the 
same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  com- 
mence at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  Samuel  Holyoke  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  Queen  Street  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  ex- 
piration of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  Samuel  Hunt  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  North 
Grammar  Sehool,  for  the  ensuing  Y'ear,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expira- 
tion of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  John  Procter  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  Queen  Street  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  aud  to  commence  at  tue  ex- 
piration of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  Abiah  Ilolbrook  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writing 
in  the  Common  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expira- 
tion of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  &  paid 
unto  Mr.  John  Tileston  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North 
WTritiug  School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration 
of  the  last  Quarter 

[S8.]  Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed 
and  paid  unto  Mr.  James  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the 
South  Grammar  School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  ex- 
piration of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  a  further  Sum  of  Forty  Pound  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  James  Lovel  as  an  encouragement  for  him  to  remain  and 
exert  himself  in  the  service  of  the  Town  the  ensuing  Year,  the 
same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  com- 
mence at  the  expiration  of  the  last  quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allowed  &  paid  unto 
Mr.  James  Carter,  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  North  Writing 
School  the  ensuing  Y"ear,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it 
shall  become  clue,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Fifly  Pounds,  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  Abia  Ilolbrook  Master  of  the  Writing  School  in  the  Common 
for  providing  an  Assistant  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Thirteen  Pounds,  six  Shillings,  and  ei<zht 
Pence  be  allowed  and  paid  unto  Mess".  John  &  James  Lovel,  as  a 
consideration  for  their  trouble  and  services  in  the  North  Grammar 
School  for  about  Six  Weeks  while  destitute  of  a  Master 


214  City  Document  No.  88. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  out  of  the  Town  Treasury  unto  Mr.  David  Jeffries  for  his 
services  as  Treasurer  of  the  Town  the  Year  past,  and  for  all  his 

Expences  in  that  Office 

[29.]  Voted,  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  and  hereby  is 
directed  and  impowered  to  allow  the  several  Schoolmasters  Inter- 
est on  the  Sums  due  to  them  from  the  Dates  of  their  Warrants  to 

the  Time  of  payment 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Five  Thousand  Five  hundred  Pounds  bo 
raised  by  a  Tax  upon  Polls  and  Estates  within  this  Town  for 
relief  of  the  Poor  and  defreying  other  necessary  Charges  arising 

within  the  Town  the  ensuing  Year 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted  that  the  Town 
Treasurer  be  and  he  hereby  is  desired  and  impowered  to  borrow 
on  Interest  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  thirty  three  Pounds  six  Shil- 
lings and  eight  Pence  for  the  use  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  to 

purchase  Grain  &c.  for  the  Almshouse 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitanls  "  for  paving  the  High 
Way  leading  from  Milk  Street  into  Battery  March,"  was  read  and 
considered  whereupon, 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  take  the  same  into 

Consideration,  and  Eeport  at  the  next  Meeting 

Mess".  Cockran  and  Campbells  Petition  "  That  the  Town  would 
relieve  them  with  respect  to  a  loss  they  have  sustained  by  supply- 
ing the  Poor  of  the  Town  on  the  Order  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Ham- 
mett  late  an  Overseer  "  was  read,  and  after  debate  had  thereon  a 
Motion  was  made  that  the  same  be  referred  to  a  Committee,  and 
the  Question  being  accordingly  put  —  Passed  in  the  Negative 
—  It  was  then  moved   that  said  Petition  be  dismissed,  and  the 

Vote  being  put  —  Passed  in  the  affermative 

The  Petition  of  the  Gentlemen  who  have  been  chose  Collectors 
of  Taxes  "  that  the  Vote  passed  at  the  March  Meeting  respecting 
the  Premium  to  be  allowed  them  may  be  reconsidered  "  was  read 
[SO. J  And  after  debate  had  thereon,  Voted  that 
Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
Mr.  Ezekiel  Price 
John  Hill  Esq. 
Mr.  Edward  Payne 
Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  take  this  Matter  into  Consideration  and  Report 

as  soon  as  may  be 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  "  that  the  same  Sum 
may  be  allowed  for  the  widening  the  Street  near  the  Salutation 
Tavern,  as  was  granted  for  the  widening  Ann  Street"  was  read 
&  considered  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Forty  Pounds  be  and  hereby  is  granted 
said  Petitioners,  provided  a  Brick  Wall  be  built  on  a  Line  with 
Mr.  Bradford  and  Mr.  Kents  Houses,  and  the  Petitioners  convey 
to  the  Town  the  several  Peices  of  Land  already  laid  unto  the 

Street 

Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are 
appointed  a  Committee  to  act  upon  the  List  of  Jurors 


Boston  Town  Records,  1767.  215 

That  Article   in   the  "Warrant  Viz'. — "To   Consider  whether 
any  Measures  shall  be  taken  for  the  better  sweeping  the  Chimnies 
&  prevention  of  Fires  "  being  read  Voted  that 
John  Ruddock  Esq. 
Thomas  Daws  Esq. 
Mr.  John  Ballard 
Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
Honb,e.  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  take  this  Matter  into  Consideration  and  Report 
at  the  next  Meeting 

[31.]  That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz*.  —  "  Whether  the 
Town  will  call  for  the  Money  lent  the  Manufactory  Company  the 
23d.  March  1753"  was  read  and  Considered,  whereupon  Voted, 
that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  and  he  hereby  is  directed  to  call  for 
said  Moue}r 

The  Committee  relative  to  the  Towns  Lands  on  Boston  Neck 
not  having  finished  their  business  were  desired  to  make  Report  at 
the  Town  Meeting  speedily  to  be  called  to  receive  the  same,  as 
also  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  the  Collectors 
of  Taxes 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Mr.  David  Jeffries  ' '  that  he 
may  be  allowed  for  a  peice  of  Land  into  the  public  Street,  but 
omitted  in  the  Admeasurement  and  Plan  of  Land  becoming  vacant 
by  Fire  1760."  Reported  that  they  had  viewed  the  above  said 
Peice  of  Land,  which  they  take  to  be  worth  Ten  Pounds,  and  said 
Report  having  been  considered 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Ten  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of 
the  Town  Treasury  unto  Mr.  David  Jeffries  as  a  consideration  for 
the  above  said  Piece  of  Land  laid  into  the  public  Street 

Voted,  that  it  appears  to  the  Town  that  John  Hancock  Esq.  the 
Residuary  Legatee  of  the  late  llonbIe.  Thomas  Hancock  Esq.  has 
always  publicly  manifested  his  readiness  to  pay  the  Legacy  left  to 
the  Town  by  his  late  worthy  Uncle  —  said  John  Hancock  Esq. 
having  made  several  Applications  to  the  Inhabitants  in  public 
Town  Meeting  that  they  would  accept  of  said  Donation 

Voted  that  all  Matters  and  Things  that  remain  unfinished  at  this 
Meeting,  be  and  hereby  is  referred  over  to  the  Town  Meeting 
speedily  to  be  called,  to  be  then  considered  and  acted  upon  - 

Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  [32.]  Be  and 
hereby  are  given  to  the  Honourable  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Modera- 
tor of  this  Meeting  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  public  Town  Meet- 
ing Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  13lh.  Day  of  July. 
Anno  Domini  1767 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -----     read 


The   Honble.    James  Otis    Esq.  was  chosen   Moderator  of   this 
Meeting,  and  took  the  Oaths  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving 


216  City  Document  No.  88. 

Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments  as  required  by  an  Act  of 
this  Province. 

The  Committee  relative  to  the  Towns  Lands  on  Boston  Neck, 
Reported  in  the  form  of  a  Vote  —  Viz1. 

Whereas  the  Lands  on  Boston  Neck  lying  on  both  sides  of  the 
Great  Road  leading  to  Roxbury  together  with  some  Lands  lying 
on  both  sides  Orange  Street,  Just  within  the  Fortification  belong- 
ing to  this  Town  ;  which  Lands  if  laid  out  in  proper  and  con- 
venient Allotments  [33.]  Might  be  sold  much  for  the  Interest 
and  advantage  of  the  Town. 

And  whereas  a  Plan  of  the  same  Lands,  is  now  lodged  in  the 
Town  Clerks  Office  whereon  is  marked  and  hud  out  proper  and 
convenient  Lotts  of  the  said  Lands  for  Sale ;  therefore  Voted  that 

or  the  major  part  of  them,  be  a  Committee  to  make  Sale  of 

all  or  any  of  the  said  Lotts,  as  also  the  said  Lands  Just  within  the 
Fortification,  for  the  most  the  same  will  fetch  ;  and  that  the  said 
Committee  or  the  major  part  of  them,  be  and  hereby  are  author- 
is'd  and  impowered  to  make  execute  and  deliver,  in  the  Name  and 
on  the  behalf  of  the  Town,  good  and  sufficient  Deed  or  Deeds  of 
bargain  and  sale,  of  any  Lott  or  Lotts  part  or  parcel  of  said  Land, 

to  the  Purchaser  or  Purchasers. 

Thomas  Daws,  p  order 

The  above  Report  having  been  read  and  considered  —  the  Ques- 
tion was  put  "  Whether  the  same  be  accepted  —  Passed  in  the 
Negative 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  Consideration  the  Peti- 
tion of  Sampson  Salter  and  others  chose  to  Collect  the  public 
Taxes  for  the  Year  1767.  do  Report — That  they  have  met  the 
Petitioners  several  Times  and  heard  them  fully  relating  to  the 
Prayer  of  their  said  Petition,  and  having  considered  of  the  same, 
give  it  as  our  Opinion,  that  the  Premium  to  be  allowed  for  Col- 
lecting said  Taxes  be  in  the  following  manner  —  Viz'.  —  Twelve 
Pence  on  the  Pound  to  each  of  the  Collectors  upon  all  such  Sums, 
as  they  shall  have  actually  paid  into  the  Province  County  and  Town 
Treasurers  on  or  before  the  tenth  Day  of  July  1768 —  Eight  Pence 
on  the  Pound  on  all  such  other  Sums,  as  they  shall  have  so  paid 
in  to  said  Treasurers  on  or  before  the  twentieth  Day  of  December 
1768.  and  Four  Pence  on  the  Pound  upon  the  remainder  of  the 
Sums  they  shall  be  obliged  to  Collect,  provided  such  remainder 
shall  be  fully  paid  in  on  or  before  the  second  Monday  of  March 
Anno  Domini  1769,  this  Premium  as  above  expressed  appears  to 
be  Just  and  equitable,  and  an  ample  Allowance  to  the  Collectors 
to  encourage  them  to  discharge  their  Duty  with  diligence  and 
fidelity,  and  humbly  submit  it  to  the  Consideration  of  the  Town 
—  The  Committee  would  beg  leave  Just  to  mention,  that  as 
every  Inhabitant  is  sensible  the  Town  for  [34.]  Many  Years  past 
have'  laboured  under  great  Difficulties  by  reason  of  the  Taxes  not 
being  paid  into  the  respective  Treasuries,  and  especially  the  Town 
Treasury,  and  that  the  Town  Tax  has  thereby  greatly  increased, 
and  that  this  has  been  principally  occasioned  by  the  neglect  of  the 
Collectors,  or  some  of  them,  and  the  backwardness  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants to  pay  owing  to  the  great  lenity  of  the  Collectors  notwith- 


Boston  Town  Recoeds,  1767.        217 

standing  the  generous  Premium  that  has  always  been  allowed  for 
their  Services :  The  Committee  are  of  Opinion  these  diffieultys 
may  be  in  a  great  Measure  prevented,  if  the  Town  would  come  into 
the  following  Resolutions.     Viz'. 

That  the  Assessors  be  directed  to  take  the  List  of  the  Names  of 
all  Persons  lyable  to  be  taxed  some  time  in  the  Month  of  June 
Annually,  so  as  to  compleat  the  same  before  the  expiration  of  that 
Month  ;  And  that  said  Assessors  shall  begin  to  make  the  Annual 
Tax  in  seven  Days  at  farthest  after  they  have  received  the  War- 
rants from  the  Province  Treasurer,  for  the  Province  Tax,  and 
from  the  Court  of  Sessions  for  the  County  Tax  and  the  Town 
Vote  for  the  Town  Tax,  and  that  they  compleat  the  said  Tax  & 
prepare  the  Tax  Books,  so  as  they  may  be  delivered  to  the  Collect- 
ors annually  on  or  before  the  first  Day  of  October,  that  Time 
being  much  better  than  it  formerly  used  to  be,  and  the  Committee 
are  of  Opinion,  that  this  delay  in  the  Assessors  has  not  only  been 
expensive  to  the  Town,  but  the  Cause  of  many  of  the  Difficulties 
the  Town  has  met  with  — — 

The  Committee  also  think  that  it  would  not  only  be  a  relief  to 
the  present  and  preceeding  Collectors,  but  of  Great  benefit  to  the 
Town,  if  they  were  directed  to  prefer  a  List  of  the  Names  of  all 
Persons  that  have  not  paid  their  Taxes  for  any  Years  proceeding 
the  Year  1766,  and  that  such  Lists  be  distinctly  read  over,  in  a  full 
Town  Meeting  to  be  called  for  that  purpose,  at  such  Time  as  the 
Town  shall  Judge  proper,  and  that  the  Collectors  for  the  Year 
1766  give  in  a  like  List  of  the  Names  of  the  Persons  that  shall 
not  have  paid  their  Taxes  for  that  Year  to  be  distinctly  read  over 

in  Town  Meeting  in  the  Month  of  March  1769.  

Benjamin  Kent 
p  order 

[35.]  The  Report  on  the  other  side  having  been  read  and 
debate  had  thereon  —  the  Question  was  put  —  Whether  the  Town 
will  accept  the  same  —  Passed  in  the  Affermative 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Coffin  chosen  Collector  of  Taxes  for  the  ensuing 
Year  having  declined  that  Service  was  accordingly  excused  by  the 
Town 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes,  for  a  Collector  of  Taxes 
in  the  room  of  Nathaniel  Coffin  Esq.  who  has  declined  serving  & 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Jonathan  Pay  son  Esq. 
was  chosen  a  Collector  of  Taxes  for  the  ensuing  Year 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be 
desired  to  do  what  is  necessary  relative  to  the  repairing  or  en- 
larging the  Gun  House  in  the  Common  for  the  reception  of  the 
Artillery  lately  given  by  the  Province  for  the  use  of  the  Boston 
Regiment. 

The  Committee  relative  to  sweeping  Chimnies  &c.  not  having 
compleated  their  Scheem,  were  disired  to  Report  the  same  at  the 
next  Town  Meeting 

The  IIoubla.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  laid  before  the  Town, 
the  following  Letter  received  from  Mr.  Secretary  Conway  — 
Viz1. 


218  City  Document  No.  88. 

London  March  16.  17G7. 


Sir 

I  am  ashamed  to  have  so  long  deferred  sending  my  Picture, 
which  the  Assembly  of  Boston  have  done  me  the  Honor  to  request ; 
but  as  this  delay  has  been  chiefly  owing  to  the  dilotariness  of  the 
Painter,  who  has  been  extremely  s'ow  iu  finishing  it  I  hope  it 
will  not  be  imputed  to  any  neglect  on  my  part,  or  to  any  want  of 
the  -Just  sense  I  ought  ever  to  retain  of  the  great  distinction  they 

were  pleased  to  favor  [36.]  Me  with  on  that  occasion 

I  am  with  great  regard 
Sir 

Your  Obliged  &  Most  Obed1. 

humble  Servant 

II.  S.  Conway. 

The  above  Letter  having  been  read  to  the  Inhabitants  by  the 
Town  Clerk  —  Voted,  that  the  same  be  handed  to  the  Committee 
relative  to  Coll0.  Barres  Picture  who  are  hereby  desired  to  write  a 
Letter  to  the  IIouble.  H.  S  :  Conway,  informing  him  of  the  recietof 
his  Picture,  and  that  the  same  by  the  unanimous  order  of  the 
Town  is  placed  in  Faneuil  Hall  —  And  said  Committee  are  im- 
powered  and  directed  to  engage  some  Person  to  write  to  his  Corre- 
spondent in  London  to  pay  the  cost  of  drawing  said  Picture, 
and  any  other  expence  that  has  attended  the  same,  which  Sum 
the  Inhabitants  hereby  oblige  themselves  to  repay  and  reim- 
burse   

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  Accompts  of  Mr. 
David  Jeffries  Town  Treasurer  have  attended  that  Service,  &  find 
the  same  right  cast  and  well  vouched  in  which  he  charges  himself 
with  sundry  Finos,  Rents,  and  other  Incomes  of  the  Town,  as  also 
with  the  Tax  of  £5000  —  All  which  amount  to  the  Sum  of 
£11577  ,,  16  ,,  11£  including  the  balance  of  old  Account 

And  the  said  Treasurer  discharges  himself  by  sundry  Abate- 
ments made  the  Collectors  amounting  to  £661  ,,  3  ,,  4  by  Drafts 
made  by  the  Selectmen  amounting  to  £3202  ,,  10,,  1£  of  which  he 
has  paid  £2284  ,,  1  ,,  7,  and  by  Drafts  made  by  the  Overseers  of 
the  Poor,  which  contain  the  Charge  of  the  Almshouse  amounting 
to  £3057  ,,  18  ,,  1  of  which  he  has  paid  £1433  ,,  7  ,,  6^  also  by 
sundry  Sums  paid  for  Interest  amounting  to  £84  ,,  14  ,,  1\  the 
whole  amounting  to  £7009  ,,  4  ,,  If 

The  said  Committee  have  inspected  said  Drafts  in  a  very  [37.] 
Particular  manner,  and  have  examined  the  Vouchers  produced  by 
the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  amount  of  their  Drafts  and  every 
other  branch  of  public  Charge,  amount  in  all  as  above  to  £7009  ,, 
4  ,,  12,  as  by  Account  of  Town  Treasury  in  the  Town  Treasurers 
Books,  balance  whereof  being  £4568  ,,  12  ,,  9-|-  is  carried  to  the 
Credit  of  a  new  Account 

Which  Report  and  Accompt  being  read,  Voted  that  the  same  be 
and  hereby  is  accepted 

In  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  Voted,  that  there  be  a  Town 
Meeting  called  on  the  24th  Instant,  provided  Mr.  Adams  produces  a 
List  to  the  Selectmen  of  the  Debts  clue  to  him  as  Collector  of  Taxes 
from  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  and  from  whom  by 


Boston  Town  Records,  1767.  219 

the  20  Inst*,  that  the  Town  may  act  as  they  Judge  pioper  with 
respect  to  the  Suit  commenced  against  him  as  Collector 

Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for  dis- 
patching the  business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  &  warned  in  public  Town  Meet- 
ing Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Fryday  the  9th  Day  of  October 
A.  D.  17G7 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -     -     -     read. 

[38.]  The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of 
this  Meeting,  and  took  the  Oaths  respecting  his  paying  and  receiv- 
ing Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments  as  required  by  an 
Act  of  this  Province. 

That  Article  in  the  "Warrant  Viz'.  —  "  Whether  the  Town  will 
make  any  alteration  in  a  late  Vote  respecting  the  Collectors 
of  Taxes,  they  having  declined  Serving  upon  the  terms  therein 
stated ;  or  if  the  Town  should  think  fit  to  adhere  to  said  Vote, 
then  to  choose  four  new  Collectors  for  the  present  Year"  was 
read,  and  after  debate  had  thereon  —  the  Question  was  put  — 
Whether  the  town  will  make  any  alteration  in  their  late  Vote 
respecting  Collectors  of  Taxes  —  Passed  in  the  Negative  —  It 
was  then  moved,  and  Voted  that  the  choice  of  Collectors  be 
referred  over  to  3  O'Clock  P  :  M  : 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  (Vizf.)  "Whether  the  Town  will 
be  at  the  Charge  of  a  new  Engine  to  supply  the  place  of  Engine 
No.  3  kept  in  Bennet  Street,  which  upon  a  thorough  inspection  is 
found  to  be  unfit  for  service  "  was  read  and  Considered  where- 
upon 


Voted,   that  it  be  left  to  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  either  to 
repair  said  Engine  or  to  procure  a  new  one  in  its  room,  as  they 

may  Judge  most  for  the  Interest  of  the  Town 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz4.  —  "  Whether  any  Measures 
shall  be  taken  to  repair  or  render  more  respectable  the   entrance 
into  this  Town  near  the  Fortification  ".  was  read  —  And  the  Ques- 
tion  being   put — "Whether  such  Measures  shall  be   taken"  — 
Passed  in  the  Affermative  —  It  was  further  Voted  that 
Mr.  Edward  Payne 
Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
Thomas  Daws  Esq. 
Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 
[30.]  Jonathan  Williams  Esq. 

Mr.  John  Boyleston 
Coll0.  John  Hill 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  carry  said  Measure 

into  execution 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz'.  —  "  Whether  the  Town  will 
impower  the  Selectmen  to  make  such  other  Building  in  addition  tj 


220  City  Document  No.  88. 

the  Gnn  House  as  is  represented  to  be  necessary  for  the  use  of  the 
Train  of  Artillery"  was  icad,  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  act  in 
this  Matter  as  they  may  think  proper  and  expedient 

Adjourned  to  3  O'Clock  P :  M  : 

Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  the  Question  was  put 
(Viz'.)  "  Whether  the  Vote  passed  in  the  Morning  respecting  Col- 
lectors of  Taxes  shall  now  be  reconsidered" — Passed  in  the 
Affermative 

It  was  further  Voted,  that  the  Vote  passed  the  13th.  of  July 
last  relative  to  the  Collectors  of  Taxes,  b}r  one  Clause  of  which 
they  are  allowed  a  Premium  of  twelve  Pence  on  the  Pound  upon 
all  such  Sums  as  they  shall  have  actually  paid  into  the  Province 
County  and  Town  Treasurers  on  or  before  the  tenth  Day  of  July 
1768  —  be  so  far  reconsidered  as  that  said  Collectors  be  and  they 
hereby  are  allowed  the  like  Sum  of  Twelve  Pence  on  the  Pound  as 
Premium  on  all  such  Sums  of  Money  as  shall  be  paid  into  the 
several  Treasurers  as  aforesaid  on  or  before  the  tenth  Day  of 
August  1 768  any  thing  in  a  former  Vote  notwithstanding 

Three  of  the  Gentlemen  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  pres- 
ent [40.]  Year  Viz4.  —  Mess".  Sampson  Salter,  Edward  Holly- 
day,  &  Samuel  Ruggles  consenting  to  serve  in  said  Office,  upon 
the  alteration  now  made  in  the  Vote  passed  the  13th.  Day  of  July 
last  respecting  said  Collectors  —  The  Inhabitants  were  desired  to 
withdraw,  and  bring  in  their  Votes  for  one  Collector  in  the  room 
of  Jonathan  Payson  Esq.  who  declines  serving  —  their  Votes  being 
accordingly  brought  in  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Mr.  Abraham  Savage 
was  chosen  a  Collector  of  Taxes  for  the  present  Year. 

The  Petition  of  Mrs.  Mary  Pratt  Widow  "that  an  abatement 
ma}"  be  made  her  on  the  Rent  of  Deer  Island  for  Reasons  therein 
given  "  was  read,  and  after  debate  had  thereon 

Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  make 
enquiry  into  the  Circumstances  of  this  Matter,  and  Report  the 
same  at  the  next  Town  Meeting 

Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for 
dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[41.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Fauenil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  28th.  Day 
of  October  A.  D.  1767. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeeting     -     -     -     -     read 
The  Honble.  James  Otis   Esq.  was   chosen  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting,  and  took  the  Oaths  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments,  as  required  by  an  Act 
of  this  Province 


Boston  Town  Records,  1767.  221 

An  Address  to  the  Freeholders  and  oiher  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  now  Assembled  and  subs  ribed  Philo  Patria  rec- 
ommending Oeconomy  and  Manufactures  which  was  handed  in  to 
the  Town  this  Morning,  was  by  their  order  read  to  them  by  the 

Town  Clerk 

The  Town  took  into  consideration  the  Petition  of  a  Number  of 
Inhabitants  "  that  some  effectual  Measures  might  be  agreed  upon 
to  promote  Industry,  Oeconomy,  and  Manufactures,  thereby  to 
prevent  the  unnecessary  Importation  of  European  Commodities 
which  threaten  the  Country  with  Poverty  and  Ruin "  whereupon 
in  a  very  large  and  full  Meeting,  the  following  Votes  and  Reso- 
lutions were  passed  unanimously. 

Whereas  the  excessive  use  of  Forreign  Superfluities  is  the  chief 
Cause  of  the  present  distressed  state  of  this  Town,  as  it  is 
thereby  drained  of  its  Money,  which  Misfortune  is  like  to 
be  increased  by  means  of  the  late  additional  burthens  and  impo- 
sitions on  the  Trade  of  this  Province  which  threaten  the  Couutry 
with  poverty  and  ruin  —  therefore  Voted,  that  this  Town  will 
take  all  prudent  and  legal  Measures  to  encourage  the  produce  and 
Manufactures  of  this  Province,  and  to  lesson  the  use  of  Super- 
fluities &  particularly  the  following  enumerated  Articles  Imported 
from  abroad  Viz1.  [42.]  Loaf  Sugar  —  Cordage  —  Anchors  — 
Coaches  —  Chaises  &  Carriages  of  all  sorts  —  Horse  Furniture  — 
Men.  &  Womens  Hatts  —  Men  &  Womens  Apparel  ready  made 
—  Household  Furniture  —  Gloves  —  Men  &  Womens  Shoes  — 
Sole  Leather — Sheathing  and  Deck  Nails  —  Gold  &  Silver 
Thread  —  Lace  of  all  Sorts  —  Gold  and  Silver  Buttons  —  Wrought 
Plate  of  all  sorts  —  Diamond  Stone  and  Paste  Ware  —  Snuff  — 
Mustard  —  Clocks  &  Watches  —  Silver  Smiths  &  Jewellers 
Ware  —  Broad  Cloths  that  cost  above  ten  shillings  p  Year  — 
Muffs,  Furrs  &  Tippetts  —  and  all  sorts  of  Millinary  Ward  — 
Starch  —  Women  &  Children's  Stays  —  Fire  Engines  —  China 
Ware  —  Silk  and  Cotton  Velvets  —  Gauze  —  Pewterers  hollow 
Ware  —  Linseed  Oyle  —  Glue  —  Lawns  —  Cambrick  - —  Silk  of  all 
kinds  for  Garments  —  Malt  Liquors,  &  Cheese.  — And  that  a  Sub- 
scription for  this  end  be  and  hereby  is  recommended  to  the  several 
Inhabitants  and  Householders  of  the  Town,  and  that 

John  Rowe  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Greenleaff 

Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 

Mr.  Samuel  Austin 

Mr.  Edward  Payne 

Mr.  Edmund  Quincy  Tertius 

John  Ruddock  Esq. 

Jonathan  Williams  Esq. 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches 

Mr.  Solomon  Davis 

Joshua  Winslow  Esq. 

Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  form  for  Subscription  to  Report  the 


222  City  Document  No.  88. 

same  as  soon  as  possible,  and  also  to  procure  Subscriptions  to  the 

same 

And  whereas  it  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Town  that  diverse  new 
Manufactures  may  be  set  up  in  America  to  its  great  advantage, 
&  some  others  carried  to  a  greater  extent,  particularly  those  of 
Glass  &  Paper,  therefore 

[43. J  Voted,  that  this  Town  will  by  all  prudent  ways  & 
means  encourage  the  use  and  consumption  of  Glass  and  Paper 
made  in  any  of  the  British  American  Colonies  and  more  especially 
in  this  Province 

Adjourned  to  3  O'Clock  P :  M  : 
3  O'Clock  P :  M  :    Met  according  to  Adjournment. 
That  Article  in  the  Warrant  (Viz'.)  "  To  Choose  a  Committee  to 
examine  the  Accompts  of  the  Managers  of  Faneuil  Hall  Lotteries," 
was  read,  whereupon  Voted,  that 

John  Hill  Esq. 
Foster  Hutchinson  Esq. 
Belcher  No}-es  Esq. 
Mr.  Ezekiel  Price 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  examine  the  Accompts 
of  the  Managers  of  Faneuil  Hall  Lotteries,  as  also  the  Accompts 
of  such  other  Lotteries  as  may  hereafter  be  drawn  by  said  Mana- 
gers   

The  Petition  of  Nathaniel  Heath  "  that  the  Selectmen  may  have 
orders  to  draw  for  the  Forty  Pounds  due  to  him  for  taking  down 
part  and  repairing  the  remainder  of  the  Widow  Crosby's  House 
near  the  Salutation  Tavern,  in  order  to  widen  the  Street  there, 
notwithstanding  the  Condition  on  which  the  Town  granted  the 
said  Sum  was  not  wholly  complyed  with "  being  read  and  consid- 
ered   

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  directed  to  give 
the  said  Heath  an  order  on  the  Town  Treasurer  for  the  Sum  of 
Forty  Pounds,  as  pay  for  the  Services  set  forth  in  his  Petition, 

any  former  Vote,  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

The  Clause  in  the  Warrant  (Viz'.)  "To  Consider  of  some  Meas- 
ures -[44.]  For  employing  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  by 
reviving  the  Linen  Manufacture,  and  in  such  other  Ways  as  shall 
be  thought  most  beneficial,"  was  read,  whereupon 
Voted,  that,  John  Barrett  Esq. 
Mr.  Edward  Payne 
Middlecot  Cook  Esq. 
Mr.  Henderson  Inches 
Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 
Jonathan  Williams  Esq. 
Ezekiel  Goldthuait  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  for  the  purpose  afore- 
said, to  Report  as  soon  as  may  bo 

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant  Viz4.  — "  That  the  mind  and  Reso- 
lution of  the  Town  may  be  taken  with  respect  to  the  expediency 
of  a  humble  request  to  his  Excellency  the  Governor,  that  he  will 
Convene  the  General  Assembly  as  soon  as  may  be  "  was  read  and 
considered  —  whereupon 


Boston  Town  Records,  1767.  223 

Voted,  ma  liinously,  that  the  Representatives  of  the  Town 
having  already  made  humble  application  to  his  Excellency  the 
Governor  for  the  purpose  above  mentioned,  the  Town  do  approve 
of  their  Conduct  therein ;  hereby  declaring  their  sense  of  the  im- 
portance of  the  Measure,  and  expressing  their  hopes  that  his 
Excellency  will  be  pleased  to  further  it,  by  Convening  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  as  soon  as  conveniently  may  be. 

The  Committee  appointed  in  the  Fore-Noon  to  prepare  a  form 

for  Subscriptions,  Report  as  follows 

Whereas  this  Province  labours  under  a  heavy  debt  incurred  in 
the  course  of  the  late  Warr,  and  the  Inhabitants  by  this  means, 
must  be  for  some  time  subject  to  very  burthensome  Taxes ;  And 
as  our  [45.]  Trade  has  for  several  Years  been  on  the  decline, 
and  is  now  particular^-  under  great  Embarrassments,  and  bur- 
then'd  with  heavy  Impositions,  our  Medium  veiy  scarce,  and  the 

balance  of  Trade  greatly  against  this  Country 

We  therefore  the  Subscribers  being  sensible  that  it  is  absolutely 
necessary,  in  order  to  extricate  us  out  of  these  embarrassed  &  dis- 
tressed Circumstances  to  promote  Industry,  Oeconomy,  &  Manu- 
factures among  ourselves,  and  by  this  Means  prevent  the  unneces- 
sary Importation  of  European  Commodities,  the  excessive  use  of 
which  threatens  the  Country  with  Poverty  and  Ruin,  Do  Promise 
&  Engage  to  and  with  each  other,  that  we  will  encourage  the  use 
and  consumption  of  all  Articles  Manufactured  in  any  of  the 
British  American  Colonies,  &  more  especially  in  this  Province  ; 
and  that  we  will  not  from  &  after  the  3 1st.  —  of  December  next 
eiisuing,  purchase  any  of  the  following  Articles,  imported  from 
t  broad 

Loaf  Sugar 

Cordage 

Anchors 

Coaches  Chaises  &  Carriages  of  all  sorts 

Horse  Furniture 

Mens  &  Womens  Hatts 

Men  &  Womens  Apparel  ready  made 

Household  Furniture 

Gloves 

Men  &  Womens  Shoes 

Sole  Leather 

Sheathing  &  Deck  Nails 

Gold  &  Silver  &  Thread  Lace  of  all  sorts 

Gold  &  Silver  Buttons 

Wrought  Plate  of  all  sorts 

Diamond  Stone  &  Paste  Ware 

Snuff 

Mustard 

Clocks  and  Watches 
[d6J       Silver  Smiths  &  Jewellers  Ware 

Broad  Cloths  that  Cost  about  10/  p  Yard 

Muffs:  Furrs  &  Tippets 

All  sorts  of  Millinary  Ware 

Starch 


224  City  Document  No.  88. 

Women  and  Childrens  Stays 

Fire  Engines 

China  Ware 

Silk  and  Cotton  Velvets 

Gauze 

Pewterers  hollow  Ware 

Silk  &  Cotton  Velvets 

Linseed  Oyle 
Glue 

Lawns 

Cambricks 

Silks  of  all  kinds  for  Garments' 

Malt  Liquors 

Cheese 
And  we  further  Agree  strictly  to  adhere  to  the  late  regulations 
respecting  Funerals,  and  will  not  use  any  Gloves  but  what  are 
Manufactured  here,  nor  procure  any  new  Garments  upon  such  an 
Occasion  but  what  shall  be  absolutely  necessary 


John  Rowe  p  order 


The  above  Report  having  been  considered,  the  Question  was 
put  —  Whether  the  same  shall  be  accepted,  whereupon 

Voted  unanimously  that  said  Report  be  &  hereby  is  accepted, 
and  that  said  Committee  be  desired  to  use  their  best  endeavors  to 
get  the  Subscription  Papers  filled  up  as  soon  as  may  be  —  also 

Voted,  unanimously  that  the  forgoing  Vote  and  Form  of  a 
Subscription,  relative  to  the  Enumerated  Articles  &c.  be  immedi- 
ately [47.]  Published,  and  that  the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen  be 
directed  to  distribute  a  proper  Number  of  them  among  the  Free- 
holders of  this  Town,  and  to  forward  a  Copy  of  the  same  to  the 
Selectmen  of  every  Town  in  the  Province,  and  also  to  the  princi- 
pal City  or  Town  Officers  of  the  Chief  Towns  in  the  several  Colo- 
nies on  the  Continent,  as  they  may  think  proper. 

That  Clause  in  the  Warrant  respecting  "  giving  proper  Instruc- 
tions to  the  Representatives  of  the  Town  for  their  Conductat  thi  s 
very  critical  conjunction  of  our  public  Affairs"  was  read,  where- 
upon 

Voted,  that  the  consideration  of  thi3  Matter  be  referred  over  to 
the  Adjournment  of  this  Meeting 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that  the  Town  will 
take  all  proper  Measures  by  keeping  in  their  Children  &  Servants 
and  other  ways  to  prevent  the  disturbances  which  have  sometimes 
happened  on  or  about  the  Fifth  Day  of  November 

At  this  Meeting  several  Samples  of  Starch  called  Poland  Starch, 
and  of  the  common  sort  of  Starch  ;  Powder  of  best  sorts  for  Bar- 
bers, Glue,  and  Snuff  like  Kippens  so  called,  all  manufactured  in 
this  Town,  were  shewn  to  the  Inhabitants  and  much  approved 
of 

Mr.  John  Baker  who  manufactures  the  Poland  Starch  so  called, 
being  present  declared  his  readiness  to  Contract  with  the  Inhabi- 
tants for  two  Thousand  Barrels  at  the  prime  cost  of  that  Article 
in  London 

Mr.  Gelaspy  the  Manufacturer  of  Stock  Snuff  so  called,  offered 


Boston  Town  Eecoeds,  1767.  225 

to  furnish  the  Inhabitants  with  what  may  be  wanted  at  the  first 
Cost  of  that  Article  in  North  Britian 

The  Town  were  also  informed  that  our  Paper  Manufacturers 
[48.]  Had  given  assurance,  that  in  case  they  can  be  supplyed 
with  the  Materials  for  their  use,  usually  burnt  or  thrown  away  in 
our  great  Towns,  they  could  supply  the  Province  with  whatever 
sorts  and  quantity  of  Paper,  they  have  occasion  for,  and  have  some 
left  for  the  other  Colonies 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Fryday  the  20th.  of 
November  next,  10  O'Clock  A  :  M  : 

Fryday  the  20th.  of  November.  10.  O'Clock  A :  M:  Town  Met 
according  to  Adjournment 

The  Committee  appointed  on  the  20th  of  last  Month  "  to  Con- 
sider of  some  Measures  for  employing  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of 
Boston,  by  reviving  the  Linnen  Manufacture,  and  in  such  other 
ways  as  shall  be  thought  most  beneficial "  having  desired  a  further 
Time  —  Voted,  that  said  Committee  be  desired  to  make  Report 
at  the  Adjournment  of  this  Meeting 

The  Committee  appointed  on  the  20th  Ultimo  relative  to  the 
Enumerated  Articles,  Reported,  and  also  handed  in  to  the  Town 
the  Subscription  Rolls,  whereupon 

Voted,  that  said  Rolls  be  left  with  the  Town  Clerk  for  such  of 
the  Inhabitants  to  Subscribe  the  same  as  may  not  as  yet  have 
done  it 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  Accounts  of  the 
Managers  of  Faneuil  Hall  Lotteries  —  Reported  that  they  had 
examined  the  several  Accompts  of  Lotteries  N°.  4.  5.  6.  7.  8.  &  9, 
and  found  the  same  to  be  right  cast,  which  Report  was  accepted 
by  the  Town 

[49.]  The  Town  being  informed  sundry  scandalous  and 
threatning  Papers  have  been  posted  up  in  various  parts  of  the 
Town,  by  some  evil  minded  Person  or  Persons,  Enemies  to  its 
peace,  tending  to  excite  Tumults  &  Disorders 

Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  will  be 
ready  on  all  Occasions  to  assist  the  Selectmen  and  Majestratea 
in  the  suppression  of  all  Disorders  that  may  arise  and  that  they 
will  endeavor  to  preserve  peace  and  harmony  among  the  Inhab- 
itants   

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  that  Article  in  the  "Warrant 
relative  to  the  giving  proper  Instructions  to  the  Representatives 
of  the  Town  for  their  Couduct  at  this  very  critical  Conjuncture  of 
our  public  Affairs,  the  Consideration  whereof  was  referred  to  this 
Meeting  was  now  taken  up  and  the  Question  being  put  — 
44  Whether  the  Town  will  Instruct  their  Representatives  —  Passed 
in  the  Affermative  almost  unanimously  —  It  was  further  Voted 
that 

Richard  Dana  Esq. 

M*.  Henderson  Inches 

John  Rowe  Esq. 

Mr.  Edward  Payne 

Mr.  Edmund  Quincy  tertius 


22«  City  Document  No.  88. 

Mr.  Ezekiel  Price 
Dr.  Benjainiu  Church 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  prepare  Instructions 
accordingly,  and  they  are  desired  to  Report  at  the  Adjournment 
of  this  Meeting 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  and  hereby  is  Adjourned  to  Tues- 
day the  22d.  of  December  next 

Tuesday  the  22d.  Day  of  December  3.  O'Clock  P  :  M  :  Town  met 
according  to  Adjournment 

[50.]  A  Petition  of  Mr.  John  Trumbles  of  Charlestown  rela- 
tive to  the  setting  up  the  Pipe  Manufacture  in  this  Town  was 
read,  but  the  same  not  being  an  Article  in  the  Warrant  was  not 
acted  upon 

The  Committee  appointed  the  28  of  October  last  "  to  consider  of 
some  Measures  for  employing  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Boston  by 
reviving  the  Linnen  Manufacture,  and  in  such  other  ways  as 
shall  be  thought  most  beneficial  "  Reported 

That  they  have  had  many  Meetings  about  the  Matters  referred 
to  them  for  their  Consideration,  have  made  a  full  enquiry  into  the 
steps  taken  by  the  late  Society  for  carrying  on  the  Linnen  Manu- 
facture, and  the  method  they  pursned  for  establishing  the  same, 
Examined  all  their  Books  and  Accompts,  and  procured  from 
several  of  the  Gentlemen  concerned  all  the  information  relative  to 
their  proceedings  in  that  Business  they  were  able  to  give,  what 
encouragement  was  given  for  carrying  it  on,  and  the  many  difficul- 
ties that  attended  it,  and  conversed  with  some  Persons  best 
acquainted  with  the  several  branches  of  this  Business,  and  also 
compared  the  Circumstances  of  those  Times  with  the  present,  and 
after  the  most  mature  Consideration  of  the  whole  The  Committee 
are  of  Opinion,  that  this  Province  has  all  natural  Advantages  for 
carrying  on  the  Linnen  Manufacture,  and  that  a  sufficient  quantity 
of  Flax  may  be  raised  for  that  purpose,  if  the  Government  would 
give  encouragement.  That  the  carrying  on  this  Business  in  a 
Factory  will  be  attended  with  greater  Expence  than  in  private 
Families  (as  by  experience  has  been  found  in  Scotland  &  Ireland 
as  well  as  among  ourselves)  where  the  Spinning  and  Weaving  are 
done  when  they  have  no  other  Employ,  whereas  in  a  Factory  they 
must  be  wholly  supported  by  the  Manufacture  therefore  cannot 
afford  their  work  so  cheap  —  That  the  profits  arising  from  this 
Manufacture  is  not  sufficient  to  induce  any  Persons  to  undertake 
it  without  some  assistance  [51.]  From  the  public ;  that  in  order  to 
carry  on  and  establish  this  Business  in  a  Factory  in  Boston,  the 
House,  Looms,  Wheels  &  other  Utensils  necessary  for  bleaching 
and  Callenclring  must  be  provided  at  the  public  charge,  and  like- 
wise a  Stock .  of  Three  thousand  Pounds  to  be  applyed  for  pur- 
chasing Flax  and  Yarn,  paying  the  Weavers  Spinners  Bleaching 
&c.  That  this  Stock  must  be  lent  to  suitable  Persons  who  are 
acquainted  in  all  the  Branches  of  this  Manufacture,  and  will 
undertake  to  carry  on  the  same  on  their  own  Account  if  such 
Persons  can  be  found,  who  could  give  security  for  the  said  Stock, 
the  Committee  are  of  Opinion  the  Linnen  Manufacture  may  be 
established  in  this  Town.     The  Committee  have  the  pleasure  to 


Boston  Town  Records,  1767.  227 

acquaint  the  Town,  that  from  the  surest  advices  they  have  obtained 
from  many  parts  of  this  Province,  the  Woolen  &  Linnen  Manu- 
factures are  carried  on  to  so  great  a  degree,  as  that  a  very  great 
part  of  the  Inhabitants  in  most  Towns  supply  themselves  with 
their  own  Cloathing  —  The  Committee  would  further  Report  that 
they  are  informed  by  good  Judges  living  in  this  Town,  that  Duck 
or  Sail  Cloth  has  been  made  in  this  Province  of  a  superior  quality 
to  any  commonly  imported  from  Russia,  and  they  are  of  Opinion 
that  the  making  this  Article  will  be  more  advantageous  than 
Linnen,  as  it  is  probable  suitable  Persons  may  be  found  to  carry 
on  this  Manufacture  with  proper  Encouragement  from  the  public, 
and  a  Bountj^  from  the  Governuf  This  Manufacture  is  not  liable 
to  so  many  accidents  as  the  Linnen,  nor  so  great  au  Expence  to 
establish  it,  the  Poor  of  the  Town  may  be  employed  to  spin  the 
Yarn  for  this,  as  well  as  the  other,  and  the  pounding  &  beating  of 
the  Hemp  may  be  done  by  those  in  the  Workhouse  At  present 
the  Commee.  are  not  able  to  Inform  the  Town  so  fully  as  to  the 
making  of  Duck  as  they  hope  they  soon  shall,  being  in  dayly  ex- 
pectations of  receiving  answei's  to  some  Letters  they  have  wrote 
relative  to  this  head,  and  when  they  come  to  hand,  the  Committee 
doubt  not  but  they  shall  be  able  to  lay  a  Plan  that  may  be  equally 
beneficial  to  the  Town  &  Province  as  the  Linnen  Manufacture 
would,  if  Persons  could  be  found  to  undertake  that,  on  the  afore- 
mentioned Terms 

[52.]  The  Question  being  put  —  Whether  the  Report  on  the 
other  side  shall  be  accepted  —  Passed  in  the  Affermative  —  It  was 
also  Voted,  that  the  said  Committee  be  desired  to  set  again  for 
a  further  Consideration  of  what  may  be  expedient  for  the  Town 
to  do  relative  to  the  Linnen  Manufacture  &°  and  to  Report  as 
soon  as  may  be 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  Instructions  for  the  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  Town,  Reported  the  following  Draft 

Gentlemen 

We  your  Constituents  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of 
the  Town  of  Boston  being  legally  Assembled  in  Faneuil  Hall,  and 
taking  into  mature  Consideration  the  distressed  Circumstances 
of  this  Town,  by  means  of  the  amazing  growth  of  Luxury,  and 
the  Embarrassments  of  our  Trade ;  &  having  also  the  strongest 
apprehensions  that  our  invaluable  Rights  &  Liberties  as  Men  and 
British  Subjects,  are  greatly  affected  by  a  late  Act  of  the  British 
Parliament  imposing  Duties  on  sundry  Commodities  to  be  levied 
&  paid  in  the  Colonies,  have  thought  it  expedient  to  give  you  our 
united  sentiments  on  those  interesting  subjects  ;  that  you  may  from 
thence  take  encouragement  vigorously  to  pursue  such  Measures  as 
may  be  best  calculated  to  secure  our  safety  &  wellfare 

It  is  the  part  of  every  wise  Community  at  all  times  to  encourage 
Industry  and  Oeconomy  among  themselves.  How  great  is  the  neces- 
sity when  pi'essed  with  insupportable  Debts  and  Taxes  which  is 
the  present  unhappy  state  of  this  Town  and  Province?  The  late  Just 
and  necessary  war,  in  which  our  Sovereign  and  the  Nation  have  been 
engaged,  being  principally  seated  in  North  America  rendred  it 
the  incumbent   Duty  of   his   Majestys  faithful  Subjects  of  these 


228  City  Document  No.  88. 

Colonics,  to  exert  the  utmost  of  their  strength  and  alrlities  in  de- 
fence of  his  Dominions  in  this  part  of  the  World,  and  reducing 
his  Enemies  to  terms  of  peace.  This  Province  has  [53.]  Exhib- 
ited many  repeated  instances  of  their  readiness  to  afford  this  aid 
to  his  Majesty  which  will  be  standing  Monuments  of  their  zeal  for 
his  Majesties  service  &  their  affection  to  the  Mother  State.  It  is 
needless  to  recur  to  former  Instances  even  in  the  Infancy  of  this 
Province  ;  the  last  War  affords  incontestable  proofs  ;  when  by  their 
united  exertions,  they  incurred  a  Debt  which  is  now  an  almost  in- 
supportable burden,  and  will  so  remain  for  Years  to  come.  It  is 
with  concern  that  we  are  obliged  to  say,  that  under  all  this  difficulty 
our  private  Debts  to  the  British  Merchants  have  been  increasing ; 
and  our  importations  even  of  Superfluities  as  well  as  other  Articles 
have  been  so  much  beyond  the  bounds  of  prudence,  that  our  utmost 
efforts  it  is  to  be  feared,  will  not  save  us  from  impending  ruin.  At 
the  Same  Time  our  Trade  by  which  alone  we  are  enabled  to  balance 
our  Accompts  with  Great  Britain  is  in  almost  every  branch  of  it 
burthened  with  Duties  and  Restrictions,  whereby  it  is  rendred  un- 
profitable to  us  ;  and  is  indeed  in  danger  of  being  totally  obstructed 
&  ruined.  In  such  a  deplorable  situation  we  warmly  recommend  to 
you  Gentlemen  to  exert  your  selves  in  promoting  every  prudentMeas- 
ure  which  ma}'  be  proposed  to  put  a  stop  to  that  profusion  of  Lux- 
ury, sothreatning  to  the  Country  ;  to  encourage  a  spirit  of  Industry 
and  frugality  among  the  People,  and  to  establish  Manufactures 
in  the  Province.  We  conceive  that  diverse  Manufactures  may  be 
set  up  to  great  advantage,  particularly  those  of  Iron,  Glass,  Paper, 
Linnen  &c.  and  therefore  we  think  it  highly  necessary  that  they 
should  be  encouraged  by  suitable  Bounties.  Hemp  and  Flax  are 
the  natural  produce  of  our  Lands,  and  many  new  discoveries  may  be 
made  of  the  Productions  of  the  Country,  which  we  have  Just  reason 
to  expect  you  will  attend  to,  as  they  will  be  the  necessary  Means 
of  lessoning  our  Forreign  Imports,  enabling  us  to  discharge  the 
Debts  we  have  already  Contracted  abroad,  &  freeing  us  from  the 
Obligation  of  contracting  at  least  so  largely  for  Time  to  come. 
We  cannot  conclude  this  head  without  observing  to  you,  that  the 
excessive  use  &  consumption  of  spirituous  Liquors  requires  your 
particular  care  to  discountenance  ;  as  it  is"  [54.,]  Destructive  to 
the  Morals  as  well  as  the  Health  and  substance  of  th.3  People ; 
rendering  them  incapable  of  labor,  and  tending  to  erace  from  the 
Mind,  the  sentiments  of  Virtue,  and  a  disposition  to  Industry. 

As  we  have  nothing  more  at  heart  than  to  maintain  a  lasting 
and  perpetual  friendship  &  union  with  the  People  of  Great  Britain 
who  are  our  Fellow  Subjects,  we  rely  upon  it  that  you  will  at  all 
Times  readily  Join  in  any  Measures  tending  to  cultivate  and  estab- 
lish it.  Using  your  best  endeavors  to  circumvent  &  frustrate  the 
designs  of  those  who  would  create  Jealousies  and  foment  Divisions 
between  us.  At  the  same  Time  it  is  your  incumbent  Duty  care- 
fully to  inspect  such  Acts  of  Parliament  as  are  or  shall  be  passed 
to  be  binding  on  the  Colonies;  the  prudence  and  even  necessity 
of  which  will  appear  when  it  is  considered  that  we  are  not  and 
cannot  be  Represented  in  the  Parliament  which  passeth  such 
Laws  ;  and  consequently  the  only  step  that  can  be  taken  by  those 


Boston  Town  Records,  1767.  229 

who  alone  legally  Represent  us,  is  to  point  out  such  inconveniences, 
as  by  reason  of  our  great  distance  from  the  Supreme  Legislative 
of  the  Nation  may  and  in  all  probability  will  sometimes  arise  from 
such  Laws,  in  order  that  they  may  be  remidied.  And  we  upon 
this  Occasion  strictly  enjoin  upon  you  to  use  your  influence  that 
the  nature  and  tendency  of  the  late  Act  of  Parliament  imposing 
Dutys  upon  Paper,  Glass  &c.  may  be  the  Subject  of  enquiry  in  the 
House  of  Representatives.  The  design  of  this  Act  we  perceive  is 
to  raise  a  Revenue  out  of  the  Colonies  for  the  support  of  his 
Majestys  Government,  and  to  defend  and  secure  his  Majestys 
Territories.  As  this  Revenue  is  to  be  raised  out  of  our  property, 
it  is  immaterial  to  us  by  what  mode  the  Taxes  are  to  be  levied,  or 
by  what  Name  they  are  called.  It  is  without  controversy  the 
natural  right  of  every  Man,  and  the  constitutional  Right  of  every 
British  Subject  solely  to  dispose  of  his  own  property  either  by  him- 
self in  Person,  or  by  his  Representatives  of  his  own  free  Election. 
If  therefore  the  People  of  [55.]  This  Province  are  by  nature  and 
by  the  Royal  Charter  entitled  to  all  the  Rights  of  natural  born 
Subjects,  as  without  doubt  they  are,  it  is  certain  that  all  Property 
taken  from  them,  by  any  manner  or  way  without  their  consent 
must  be  an  infringement  of  their  natural  and  Constitutional  Rights, 
and  it  is  a  point  of  the  utmost  cousequence  to  us ;  For  what 
Liberty  could  any  Man  be  supposed  to  have,  if  another  have  a 
right  to  demand  of  him  any  part  of  his  earnings,  and  by  conse- 
quence the  whole  if  he  pleases?  Besides  the  appropriation  of  the 
Moneys  to  be  raised  by  this  Act  we  humbly  apprehend  it  to  be 
Just  matter  of  grievance  to  us,  in  as  much  as  we  are  thereby  de- 
prived of  that  honor  which  is  the  pride  of  British  Subjects  of 
testefying  our  alacrity  in  supporting  his  Majesties  Officers  in  the 
several  Departments  of  Government,  as  well  as  of  the  privilege  of 
taking  into  Consideration  our  own  ability  and  the  merit  of  their 
Services.  Moreover  the  Act  in  its  opperation  will  further  dis- 
courage our  Trade,  already  sinking  under  its  pressures  &  difficulties. 
And  it  is  worth  your  particular  notice  that  it  has  ever  been  the 
policy  of  Great  Britain  to  lay  the  Colonies  under  the  necessity  of 
purchasing  her  own  Manufactures  to  the  exclusion  of  all  others, 
which  obliges  us  to  purchase  such  Articles  as  we  have  nead  of  at 
an  advanced  price :  and  this  alone  we  apprehend  would  be  suffi- 
cient to  exempt  us  from  any  additional  Charges  or  Duties  upon 
them  here,  even  it  were  not  inconsistent  with  our  natural  and  con- 
stitutional Rights ;  especially  when  it  is  considered,  that  by  our 
consumption  of  their  Manufactures,  the  price  of  them  is  great'y 
advanced,  the  Manufactures  increased  in  number  and  wealth  and 
enabled  to  pay  a  larger  proportion  towards  the  public  and  National 

Charges,  and  the  value  of  their  Lands  is  also  greatly  enhanced 

We  therefore  upon  the  whole  Instruct  you  to  endeavor  that  in 
the  most  humble  dutiful  and  loyal  terms  such  representations  may 
be  made  to  our  most  gracious  King,  of  our  Constitutional  & 
Charter  Rights — of  our  unrivalled  Loyalty  &  Affection  to  his 
Person,  Family  &  Government  [56.  J  Of  our  acknowledged  Con- 
stitutional subordination  to  the  supreme  Legislative  power  of  the 
Nation,  and  of  the  hardships  &  grieveauces  which  lye  upon  >.:s 


230  City  Document  No.  88. 

under  the  opperation  of  the  said  Act,  together  with  such  humble 
supplication  to  his  Majesty,  as  ma}7  prevail  upon  him  graciously  to 
recommend  its  Repeal 

The  above  Report  having  been  duly  Considered,  it  was  Voted 
unanimously  that  the  same  be  accepted. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  —  Voted,  that  the  afore- 
going Instructions  be  printed  in  the  public  News  Papers 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for 
dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  publick  Town 
Meetiug  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  13th.  of 
January  A.D.  1768. 

[57.]     Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  -     -     -     -     read. 

Samuel  Grant  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  and 
took  the  Oath  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving  Bills  of  Credit 
of  the  other  Governments,  as  required  b}T  an  Act  of  this  Prov- 
ince   

The  Committee  appointed  the  28th.  of  October  last  "  to  consider 
of  some  Measures  for  employing  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Boston, 
by  reviving  the  Linnen  Manufacture,  and  in  such  other  ways  as 
shall  be  thought  most  beneficial "  —  Report 

That  having  Reported  their  Sentiments  to  the  Town  on  the  22d 
December  last  as  to  the  carrying  on  the  Linnen  Manufacture  and 
therein  suggested  their  Opinion  as  to  the  great  probability  there 
was,  that  the  making  of  Duck  or  Sail  Cloth  upon  suitable  encour- 
agement given,  would  employ  the  Poor  and  be  fully  as  beneficial 
to  the  Public  as  any  other  Manufacture  whatsoever  though  they 
were  not  then  able  to  inform  the  Town  as  to  the  process  in  making 
Duck  or  Sail  Cloth,  but  as  they  expected  answers  to  Letters  they 
had  wrote  relative  to  this  Article,  they  were  in  hopes  when  they 
should  them,  they  should  be  able  to  lay  a  Plan  before  the  Town 
for  carrying  this  Manufacture  on  in  such  a  manner  as  to  answer 
the  grand  design  of  the  Town,  viz*. — Employing  the  Poor  of 
it 

And  as  the  Committee  were  then  desired  by  the  Town  to  con- 
tinue their  good  offices  for  effecting  this  Plan,  the  Committee 
accordingly  beg  leave  to  Report  —  That  they  have  received 
answers  to  the  Letters  referred  to,  &  had  a  long  conversation  with 
a  Gentleman  who  has  been  concerned  in  this  Manufacture  and 
procured  such  other  information  about  it,  that  they  are  of  opinion 
the  manufacturing  of  Duck  or  Sail  Cloth,  may  be  set  up  and  car- 
ried on,  so  as  to  employ  all  the  poor  Women  and  Children  of  the 
Town  and  render  it  very  beneficial  to  the  Community.  And  there 
is  this  peculiar  advantage  in  this  Manufacture,  that  Duck  can  be 
made  either  with  Flax  or  Hemp  of  our  own  growth  or  Forreign 


Boston  Town  Becoeds,  1768.  231 

Hemp,  which  can  at  all  times  be  [58.]  Procured  and  so  not  liable 
to  fail  by  reason  of  a  drought,  whereas  the  Li. men  Manufacture 
depended  wholly  on  the  growth  of  Flax,  has  by  sorrowful  experi- 
ence failed  heretofore  on  that  Account  to  the  great  detriment  of 
this  Town.  But  for  the  effecting  this  Plan,  it  will  be  necessary 
that  Suitable  encouragement  be  given  by  the  Public  to  such  Per- 
sons as  shall  appear  to  undertake  and  carry  on  the  same  ;  and  for 
this  end  the  Committee  would  humbly  propose  —  First  That  the 
Government  should  grant  the  use  of  the  Manufactory  House  in 
Boston  to  the  Undertakers,  for  so  long  time  as  they  shall  continue 
to  carry  on  the  Manufacturing  of  Duck,  Check  or  plain  Linnen  — 
Secondly  That  a  Sum  be  immediately  raised  by  Subscription  and 
given  to  the  Undertakers,  for  the  purchasing  Looms,  Wheels  and 
other  Utensils,  necessary  for  carrying  on  said  Business  ;  learning 
of  Spinners  and  paying  such  other  incidental  Charges  as  may 
arise — Thirdly  —  That  for  purchasing  such  a  Stock  for  carrying 
on  this  Manufacture  as  will  answer  the  good  purposes  proposed  it 
will  be  necessary  for  the  Undertakers  to  hire  a  considerable  Sum 
of  Money,  for  which  they  must  give  their  own  personal  security 
and  pay  the  Interest  thereof. 

And  as  the  prospect  of  advantage  is  not  sufficient  to  induce  any 
to  engage  in  it  without  some  assistance  from  such  as  are  of  ability 
to  afford  it ;  The  Committee  would  propose  that  a  Subscription  be 
opened  for  the  Annual  payment  of  such  a  Sum  as  each  Person 
should  incline  to  give  for  the  space  of  Five  Years ;  this  is  to  be 
given  to  the  Undertakers  to  enable  them  to  pay  the  Interest  of  the 
Moneys  tbey  shall  borrow 

With  this  encouragement  the  Committee  are  in  hopes  some  Per- 
sons of  Character  &  Resolution  will  appear  to  undertake  this 
Manufacture;  which  if  any  do  and  success  attends  the  same,  it 
will  be  not  only  a  constant  Employ  to  the  Poor,  but  be  greatly 
advantageous  to  the  Town  in  many  other  respects ;  and  this 
encouragement  as  proposed,  the  Committee  apprehend  none  can 
have  any  objection  to ;  and  doubt  not  such  a  spirit  and  disposition 
will  prevail  in  the  Inhabitants,  as  that  this  Plan  may  be  prosecuted 
in  such  a  manner  as  the  good  effects  of  it  may  be,  &  continued 
[n9.]  With  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  and  their  Posterity 
forever. 

The  Committee  beg  leave  further  to  inform  the  Town,  that  Mr. 
John  Brown  who  now  lives  in  the  Factory,  did  make  a  proposal 
that  he  would  engage  ou  certain  Conditions  to  manufactui'e  and 
deliver  them  Linnens  at  the  same  price  they  are  imported  from 
London  ;  which  proposal  the  Committee  have  carefully  examined 
and  considered  ;  and  it  appeared  to  them  a  very  considerable  Sum 
must  have  been  advanced,  to  enable  them  to  carry  on  the  Manu- 
facture, for  which  he  could  give  no  security  ;  And  it  further 
appeared  to  the  Committee  that  it  was  not  practicable  for  him  to 
comply  with  the  proposals  he  had  made  ;  therefore  they  cannot 
advise  the  Town  to  pursue  it  at  present 

But  the  Committee  would  recommend  it  to  the  Gentlemen  who 
may  undertake  the  making  of  Sail  Cloth,  if  it  should  appear  to 
them   that   Check  Linnen  can  be  made  to  advantage,  that   they 


232  City  Document  No.  88. 

would  employ  some  part  of  the  Money  subscribed  to  encourage 

that  branch  

In  the  Namo  and  by  Order  of  the  Committee 


John  Barret 

The  above  Report  having  been  read  and  considered,  Voted, 
that  the  same  be  accepted,  and  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be 
given  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Committee  for  the  Pains  they  have 
taken  in  the  affair  also  — 

Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  of  the  above  Committee  be  desired 
to  procure  Undertakers  for  the  Execution  of  the  Scheme ;  and 
when  Undertakers  shall  appear,  the  Town  recommend  to  the 
Inhabitants  a  Subscription  for  said  purpose  —  It  was  further 

Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  who  Represent  the  Town  in  General 
Assembly,  be  and  hereby  are  desired  to  countenance  &  forward 
all  in  their  power  any  application  that  may  be  made  to  the  Court 
by  the  Undertakers  for  their  Assistance  in  said  Undertaking 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  Samuel  Grant 
Esq.  Moderator 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[60.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  &  warned  in  publick 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  14th. 
Day  of  March  Anno  Domini  17G8 


Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Dr.  Cooper 


Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -     -     -     read. 
Sundry  Laws  enjoin'd  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting,  were  accord- 
ing read 

The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting,  and  took  the  Oaths  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Connecticut  New   Hampshire   and  Rhode 

Island  Governments  as  required  by  an  Act  of  this  Province. 

William  Cooper  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  Year  ensuing, 
and  having  taken  the  Oath  respecting  his  paying  &  receiving 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Connecticut  and  other  Governments,  took 
the  Oath  of  Office   for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  Duty,  which 

Oaths  were  Administred  to  him  by  Mr.  Justice  Dana 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  Seven  Selectmen,  and  the 
Votes  being  brought  in  and  sorted,  it  appeared  that 
Coll0.  Joseph  Jackson 
Samuel  Sewall  Esq. 
John  Ruddock  Esq. 
John  Hancock  Esq.  (all  sworn) 

William  Phillips  Esq. 
Mr.  Timothy  Newell 
John  Rowe  Esq. 

were  chose  Selectmen  for  the  Year  ensuing - 

[61.]  The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Twelve  Overseers 
of  the  Poor,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared,  that 


Boston  Town  Records,  1768.  233 

John  Barrett  Esq. 

The  Honble.  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Dolbear 

Mr.  William  Whitwell 

Mr.  William  Greanleaff 

William  White  Esq. 

Mr.  Joseph  Waldo 

John  Leaveret  Esq. 

John  Gore  Esq. 

Cap4.  Samuel  Partridge 

Thomas  Tyler  Esq. 

Cap'.  John  Bradford 
were  chose  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  Voted,  that  the  Thanks  ot 
the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to  Jonathan  Williams  Esq.  for 

his  good  Services  the  Year  past  as  an  Overseer  of  the  Poor 

The  Town  brought   in  their  Votes  for  Twelve  Wardens,  and 
upon  sorting  them,  it  appeared  that, 

Henry  Loyd  Esq. -     excused 

Jonathan  Simpson  Esq. 

John  Hancock  Esq. 

William  Blair  Townsend    -     -    -     d°. 

Cap1.  John  Marston 

Cap1.  William  Downe  Cheever 

Mr.  Nathan  Hancock 

Mr.  Samuel  Barrett 

Mr.  John  Sweetser  Junr. 

Mr.  Hopestill  Capon 

Mr.  John  Mav 
[62.]  Mr.  Samuel  Dyer 

were  chose  Wardens  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

2  more  see  after 
The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Sixteen  Fire  Wards  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

John  Scollay  Esq. 

Newman  Grenough  Esq. 

John  Rowe  Esq. 

John  Rowe  Esq. 

William  Cooper 

Mr.  John  Mico  Wendell 

Coll0.  Thomas  Marshall 

William  Homes  Esq. 

Mr.  Joseph  Tyler 

Cap'.  Adino  Paddock 

Mr.  James  Richardson 

Majr.  James  Cunningham 

Cap'.  Benjamin  Waldo 

John  Hancock  Esq. 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 

Cap'.  Martin  Gay 

Thomas  Daws  Esq. 
were  chose  Fire  Wards  for  the  Year  ensuing. 


234  City  Document  No.  88. 

Cap*.  William  Downe  Cheever  having  declined  Serving  as  a  Fire 
"Ward  by  reason  of  his  ill  state  of  Health.  —  Voted,  that  the 
Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given   him  for  his  good 

services  in  that  Office  some  Years  past 

Upon  a  Motion  made  &  seconded,  Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the 
Town  be  &  hereby  are  given  to  Jonathan   Williams  Esq.  for  his 

good  services  as  a  Fire-Ward  some  Years  past 

[63.]  Ihe  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Town  Treasurer, 
&  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared,  that  Mr.  David  Jeffries  was 
chosen  &  having  taken  the  Oath  relating  to  his  paying  and  receiv- 
ing Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments ;  took  the  Oaths  of 
Office  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  Duty,  which  Oaths  were 

Administred  to  him  by  Mr.  Justice  Dana 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  —  the  Question  was  put  — 
u  Whether  Constables  and  Collectors  of  Taxes  shall  be  chose  sep- 

perate,"  —  Passed  in  the  Affermative 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Five  Pounds  be  Remitted  out  of  the 
Ten  Pound  Fine  to  such  Person  as  shall  be  chose  into  the  Office 

of  Constable  for  the  Year  ensuing,  and  shall  decline  serving 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Twelve  Clerks  of  the 
Market,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Mess".  Benjamin  Clark      -    -     -     excused 

Samuel  Barrett  ---..-  d°. 

Edward  Lyde  Sworn 

John  Avery  Junr.  d°. 

Cap'.  Thomas  Brattle 

Cap*.  William  AVingfield  d°. 

Mr.  John  Gridley 

Mr.  George  Green 

Mr.  Thomas  Pitts 

Mr.  John  Cushing 

Mr.  Robert  Duncan 

Mr.  John  Gore  Junr. 

were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing 

see  two  more. 

Mr.  John  Gray 
was  chosen  Surveyer  of  Hemp  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
[64.]        Mess".  William  Nichols 

Andrew  Symms 

Clement  Collins 

Henry  Allen 

Isaac  Vergoose 

John  Grenough 

Jacob  Thayer 

Joseph  Edmunds 

John  Skillens 

John  Sergeant 

Richard  Walker 

John  Cbnmpny 

Samuel  Turner 

John  Bulfinch 

one  more 


Boston  Town  Re  coeds,  1768.  235 

were  chose  Surveyers  of  Boards  &  Shingles  for  the  Year  ensu- 
ing  

Mess".  Samuel  Dyer 

John  Dyer 

Obediah  Low 

John  Joy 

William  Craffts 

were  chose  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mess".  Nathaniel  Gardner 

Samuel  Whitwell 

were  chose  Informers  of  Deer  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mess".  Ebenezer  Mcintosh 

Samuel  Bangs 

William  Andrews 

John  Shepherd  -     -     -     -     Sworn 

William  Stevenson 

were  chose  Sealers  of  Leather  for  the  Year  ensuing 

[65,  ]        Mess".  Peter  Cotta 

Manesseh  Masters 

Joseph  Dyer 

John  Haskins 

David  Spear 

Jonathan  Jenkins 

Eobert  Brick  Junr. 

Job  Wheelwright 

Joshua  Pico 

Benjamin  Salt 

Paul  Baxter 

John  Owen 

Thomas  Knox 

Samuel  White 

Edward  Cowell 

Edward  Potter 

Peter  Ellis 

Timothy  Pease 

Nathaniel  Waterman 

Jacob  Williams 

Samuel  Bernard 

John  Newell 

Joseph  Phillips 

see  more 

were  chose  Cullers  of  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mess".  David  Simens 

Thomas  Curtis 

were  chose  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mr.  Edward  Curtis  was  chosen  Hayward  for  the   Year  ensu- 
ing  

The  Selectmen 

were  chose  Surveyers  of  High  Ways  for  the  Year  ensuing 

[66.]  Coll0.  Joseph  Jackson 

William  Phillips  Esq. 

William  Homes  Esq. 


236  City  Document  No.  88. 

were  chose  Purchasers  of  Grain  for  the  Year  ensuing,  and  they 
are  desir'd  and  empowered  to  give  all  needful  Direction  to  the 
Keeper  of  the  Granary  respecting  the  Quantity  of  Grain  to  be  sold, 
and  affixing  the  price  thereof  from  Time  to  Time  as  occasion  shall 

require 

Cap'.  Martin  Gay 
Mr.  John  Skinner 

were  chose  Assay  Master  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted  that  Mr.  Thomas   Gray 

Ezekiel  Golthwait  Esq. 
Mr.  Moses  Gill 
Mr.  John  Bo.ylston 
Jonathan  Williams  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the  Accompts 
of  Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries,  and  also  the  Accompts  of  the  Overseers 
of  the  Poor,  and  the  said  Committee  are  enjoyned  to  inspect  every 
particular  Account  of  the  Moneys  Expended  for  the  use  of  the 
Alms-house,  they  are  also  impowered  when  they  shall  Audit  said 
Accompts  to  allow  such  of  the  Overseers  as  shall  Advance  Moneys 
for  the  Relief  of  the  Poor,  Interest  on  all  such  Sums  from  the  Time 

so  advanced,  till  they  shall  have  Audited  said  Accompts. 

John  Tuder  Esq. 
Mr.  John  White 

were  chose  Surveyers  of  Wheat  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Upon  a  Motion  made  &  seconded,  Voted,  that  the  choice  of  a 

Clerk  for  Faneuil  Hall  Market,  be  left  with  the  Selectmen 

[67.]     Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  it  was  Voted,  that 

one  Scavinger  be  chosen  out  of  every  Ward 

Mess".  Nathaniel  Baker Ward  N°.  1 

After  Stoddard  ----------       2 

Benjamin  Page  ----------       3 

Zachary  Fowle   ----------       4 

Isaac   Greenwood  -- --       5 

Daniel  Flagg 6 

Ephraim  Copeland  ---------       7 

Timothy  White  -     -     - 8 

Nathaniel  Hurd 9 

Oliver  Wiswell-     - 10 

John  Bartlett --11 

Thomas  Chase    ----------12 

were  chose  Scavingers  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  inforce  the  Duty  of  the 
Scavingers  upon  them,  and  if  they  should  find  any  Defect  in  the 
Laws  relative  to  those  Officers,  that  they  Report  the  same  to  the 
Town,  that  they  may  act  thereon  as  they  may  Judge  conven- 
ient   

Voted,  that  Mr.  Ezekiel  Price 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  form  of  a  Vote    relative  to  a  Pre- 
mium for  the  Collectors  of  Taxes 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and   seconded,  Voted,  that   the   Sum  of 


Boston   Town  Records,  1768.  237 

Thirty  Pounds  be  and  hereby  is  allowed  to  James  Clemmens  for 
his  Salary  as  Clerk  of  Faneuil  Hall  Market 

Voted,  that  the  Consideration  of  School  Masters  Salarys  and  all 
other  Salarys  &  Grants  be  referred  over  to  next  May  Meeting 

[68.]     The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Seven  As- 
sessors and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 
Mr.  William  Fairfield 
Mr.  John  Kneeland, 
Mr.  Benjamin  Church 
Belcher  Noyes  Esq. 
Mr.  William  Torrey 
Mr.  Jonathan  Brown 
Mr.  Daniel  Pecker 
were  chose  Assessors  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Selectmen  Reported  on  Accompts  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Fenno 
Keeper  of  the  Granary  for  the  Year  past,  which  Accompt  as  en- 
tred  in  his  Books  (and  on  file  in  the  Town  Clerks  Office)  was  read, 
whereupon  it  was  Voted,  that  the  same  be  accepted,  and  that  Mr. 
Fenno  be  accountable  to  the  Town  for  810.  Bushels  of  Indian  Corn 
and  34  Bushels  of  Rye  amounting  to  £112,,  10,,  8,  and  also  for  the 
Sum  of  £155,,  9,,  2|  Cash  now  in  his  hands  exclusive  of  the  Sum 
of  £32,,  13,,  4  for  his  Salary  and  Attendance  as  charged  in  his 
Accompt  which  is  hereby  allowed  him. 

Voted,  that  the  Assessors  be  and  hereby  are  impowered  and 
directed,  to  set  for  the  Abatement  of  such  Taxes  as  they  shall 
Judge  reasonable  on  every  Thursday  till  the  first  Thursday  in  April 
inclusive  and  no  longer,  saving  that  they  be  allowed  to  set  the  two 
last  Weeks  in  November,  for  the  Abatement  of  the  Taxes  of  such 
Persons  as  had  not  an  Opportunity  of  applying  on  the  above  limitted 
Time,  by  reason  of  their  being  out  of  the  Province  ;  at  which  Time 
they  are  also  allowed  and  impowered  to  Abate  the  Taxes  of  such 
Persons,  as  may  have  died  Insolvent  between  the  said  last  Thurs- 
day in  April  and  the  last  Day  of  November 

The  Selectmen  as  a  Committee  appointed  by  the  Town  to  [69.] 
Consider  Mary  Pratt s  Petition,  praying  that  an  Allowance  for 
Reasons  therein  mentioned,  might  be  made  on  a  Debt  due  from 
her  late  Husband  Ebenezer  Pratt  deceased,  for  Rent  of  Deer  Island, 
have  attended  that  Business  and  Reported 

That  the  Petitioners  Reasons  for  the  above  mentioned  Allowance 
taken  from  the  Circumstances  of  the  two  Years  Drought  1761  & 
1762 — however  otherwise  well  founded,  loose  their  weight  in  the 
present  application,  when  we  recollect  that  the  said  Pratts  Contract 
was  at  that  Time  with  Thomas  Goldthwait  Esq.  who  then  Leased 
the  said  Island  of  the  Town,  And  under  the  present  Lease  her  Pleas 
for  Abatement  of  Rent  would  be  more 'directly  in  favor  of  her  Pe- 
tition, was  the  said  Island  Leased  to  her  Husband  the  said  Ebenezer 
Pratt  only ;  but  Mr.  Samuel  Pratt  her  surviving  Brother  held  the 
Lease  Jointly  with  him,  shared  the  Profit  and  now  stands  answer- 
able for  the  Rent 

On  the  other  hand  it  must  be  allowed  that  the  Family  have  suf- 
fered much  by  the  Sickness  and  Death  of  their  Parent,  as  well  as 
other  Circumstances  which  occurred  duiinar  their  residence  on  said 


238  City  Document  No.  88. 

Farm,  and  have  since  the  said  Petition  was  brought  before  the 
Town,  been  obliged  to  sell  their  Stock  at  a  low  late  and  quit  the 
Farm  at  the  approach  of  last  Winter,  which  Occurrences  we  ap- 
prehend rendered  them  Objects  worthy  of  the  Towns  compas- 
pionate  Notice —  Wherefore  your  Committee  beg  leave  to  recom- 
mend to  the  Town  an  allowance  of  such  a  Sum  as  shall  be  deemed 
meet  for  their  relief  to  be  paid  to  the  said  Mary  for  the  use  of  her 
Family  out  of  the  Rent  for  said  Island  coming  to  the  Town  on 
the  last  mentioned  Lease,  when  the  same  shall  be  received  into  the 
Town  Treasurery 

The  above  Report  being  read  &  considered,  Voted,  that  the 
same  be  accepted,  and  that  the  Sum  of  Thirteen  Pounds  six  Shil- 
lings and  eight  Pence  be  paid  to  the  said  Mary  Pratt  for  the  use 
of  her  Family  out  of  the  Rent  for  said  Island  coming  to  the  Town 
on  the  last  mentioned  Lease,  when  the  same  shall  be  received  into 
the  Town  Treasury 

Adjourned  to  3.  0°.Clock.  P  :  M  : 

[70.]     Town  met  according  to  adjournment 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz'.  —  "  Whether  Interest  shall  be 
Allowed  on  the  Moneys  left  unpaid  of  the  Sums  Voted  the  late 
Samuel  Wentworth  and  John  Hill  Esq.  for  their  Interest  on  the 
Neck  1764.  "  was  read  and  Considered,  whereupon — - — 

Voted,  that  Interest  be  and  hereby  is  allowed  on  said  Sums, 
from  the  Time  when  they  become  clue,  untill  they  shall  be  paid 
and  discharged 

The  Committee  respecting  Collectors  Premium  Reported  where- 
upon   

Voted,  That  the  Sum  of  Twelve  Pence  on  the  Pound  be  and 
hereby  is  allowed  to  such  Persons  as  shall  be  chose  Collectors  of 
Taxes  for  the  Year  ensuing  for  all  such  Sums  as  they  shall  Col- 
lect, provided  they  pay  into  the  several  Treasuries,  the  whole 
Sum  committed  to  them  to  Collect  on  or  before  the  tenth  Day  of 
August  1769.  Eight  Pence  on  the  Pound  on  all  such  other  Sums, 
as  they  shall  have  so  paid  in  to  said  Treasurers  on  or  before  the 
20  Day  of  December  1769,  and  Four  Pence  on  the  Pound  upon 
the  remainder  of  the  Sum  they  shall  be  obliged  to  Collect,  pro- 
vided such  remainder  shall  be  fully  paid  in  on  or  before  the  second 
Monday  in  March  1770  —  this  Premium  as  above  expressed  ap- 
pears to  be  Just  &  equitable,  and  an  ample  allowance  to  the  Col- 
lectors to  encourage  them  to  discharge  their  Duty  with  diligence 
and  fidelity  —  provided  also  that  such  of  said  Collectors  give  Bond 
with  sufficient  Sureties  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen  for  the 
faithful  discharge  of  their  Duty  in  said  Office,  and  complying  with 
this  Vote 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  —  Voted  that 
Foster  Hutchinson  Esq. 
Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 
Mr.  Edwaid  Payne 

[71.]  Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 

John  Hancock  Esq. 
Jonathan  Williams  Esq. 
Mr.  Ezekiel  Price 


Boston  Town  Kecords,  1768.  239 

be  a  Committee  to  Examine  into  the  state  of  the  Town  Treasury, 
and  to  consider  of  some  Method  for  the  better  transacting  the  Money 
Affairs  of  the  Town  for  the  future,  and  to  make  Report  of  the  same 

next  May  Meeting 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Twelve  Constables,  the 
Persons  chose  into  that  Office  and  sworn  are 
Mess".  Augustus  Hail 
Francis  Salmon 
Peter  Barbour 

Edward  Baker     -     -    -    -    excused. 
Hezekiah  Usher 
Lindsey  George  Wallis 
Daniel  Berry 
Benjamin  Adams 

see  more. 
The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  County  Treasurer,  which 
were  sealed  up  and  delivered  to  Mr.  Constable  Lindsey  George  to 

be  returned  to  the  Court  of  Sessions 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Four  Collectors  of 
Taxes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 
Mr.  Sampson  Salter 
Mr.  Edward  Hollyday 
Mr.  Samuel  Ruggles 
Mr.  Abraham  Savage 

were  chose  into  that  Office 

The  Town  taking  into  consideration  that  Article  in  the  Warrant 
Viz'.  —  "  Of  such  Methods  as  may  be  Judged  necessary  to  pro- 
mote [72.]  The  carrying  on  the  Manufactory  of  Duck  lately 
undertaken  by  John  Barrett  Esq.  and  others,  and  granting  them 
such  encouragement  &  assistance  towards  prosecuting  the  same, 
as  shall  be  effectual  for  the  good  purposes  thereby  proposed  "  — 
Voted,  that 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Storer 
Benjamin  Austin  Esq. 
Mr.  William  Whitwell 
Thomas  Daws  Esq. 
Mr.  Joseph  Waldo 
Mr.  Moses  Gill 
Mr.  Samuel  Austin 
Mr.  William  Greanleaff 
Mr.  William  Gray 
Cap4.  Samuel  Partridge 
Mr.  Nathaniel  Barbour 
Mr.  John  Ballard 
be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  take  Subscrip- 
tions of   such  Persons  as  shall  incline  to  encourage  the  Under- 
taking, the  same  to  be  applyed  for  the  purposes  mentioned  in  the 
Vote  of  the  Town  at  their  last  Meeting.     And  it  is  recommended 
to  said  Committee  that  they  exert  themselves  to  the  utmost   of 
their  power  to  obtain  Subscriptions,  as  the  Town  apprehend  that 
if  suitable  Encouragement  be  given  in  this  Affair  and  it  be  prose- 
cuted with  Resolution,  it  must  Employ  great  numbers  of  the  Poor 


240  City  Document  No.  88. 

Persons  who  are  a  burthen  and  Expence  to  the  Town,   and  be 

otherwise  very  beneficial  to  the  Inhabitants 

The  Article   in  the  Warrant,  Viz*. —  "That   some  Agreement 
may  be  come  into  not  to  purchase  any  Lamb  before  a  particular 
Time  affixed  by  the  Town,"  was  read  &  considered  whereupon 
Voted  that  Mr.  Benjamin  Harrod 

Cap*.  Fortesque  Vernon 
John  Tuder  Esq. 
Cap'.  William  Mackay 
[73.]  Cap'.  Jonathan  Carey 

Mr.  Samuel  Fletcher 
Mr.  Samuel  Emms 
M1.  Thomas  Jackson 
Mr.  Christopher  Clark 
Mr.  John  Presson 
Mr.  Henry  Hill 
Mr.  James  Swift 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  obtain  Subscriptions 
to  an  Agreement  not  to  purchase  any  Lamb  untill  the  First  Day 
of  July  next,  and    the  Town  recommend  to   the  Inhabitants  to 

Subscribe  to  so  salutary  a  purpose 

The  Committee  appointed  to  Examine  the  Accompts  of  Mr. 
David  Jeffries  Town  Treasurer  have  attended  that  Service,  and 
find  the  same  right  Cast  and  well  vouched ;  in  which  he  charges 
himself  with  Sundry  Fines,  Rents,  and  other  Incomes  of  the  Town, 
as  also  with  the  Tax  of  £5500 — all  which  amount  to  the  Sum 

of  £11285  ,,  11  ,,  5£  including  the  balance  of  Old  Account 

And  the  said  Treasurer  discharges  himself  by  sundry  Abate- 
ments made  the  Collectors  amounting  to  £819  ,,  3  ,,  9,  by  Drafts 
made  by  the  Selectmen  amounting  to  £3600  ,,  3  ,,  J  of  which  he 
has  paid  £2595  ,,  11  ,,  2J,  and  by  Drafts  made  by  the  Overseers 
of  the  Poor  which  contain  the  Charges  of*  the  Almshouse  amount- 
ing to  £3150  ,,  19  ,,  1  of  which  ho  has  paid  £1873  ,,  6  ,,  5£  — 
also  by  sundry  Sums  paid  for  Interest  amounting  to  £61  ,,  3  ,, 

8|  the  whole  amounting  to  £7639  ,,  19  ,,  8^ 

The  said  Committee  have  inspected  said  Drafts  in  a  very  par- 
ticular manner ;  and  have  examined  the  Vouchers  produced  by 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  for  the  amount  of  their  Drafts,  and  every 
other  branch  of  public  Charge  amounting  in  all  as  above  to 
£7639  ,,  19  ,,  8^  as  by  Accompt  of  Town  Treasurer  in  the  Town 
Treasurers  Books  balance  whereof  being  £3645  ,,  11  ,,  9^  is 
carried  to  the  Credit  of  New  Accompt  —  Which  Report  & 
Accompt  being  read,  Voted,  that  the  same  be  and  hereby  is  ac- 
cepted   

[74.]  That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz'.  —  "That  some 
Measures  may  be  come  into  to  prevent  Frauds  in  the  Measure  of 

Indian  Meal  &c."  was  read  and  Considered,  whereupon 

Voted,  that  Mr.  Samuel  Blodget 
Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
Mr.  George  Bethune 
Coll0.  John  Hill 
Benjamin  Hallowell  Esq. 


Boston  Town  Recokds,  17G8.  241 

be  a  Committee  to  take   this  Matter  into  farther  Consideration, 

and  Report  and  the  Adjournment 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz4.  — "  What  may  be   proper  to 
be  done    for   the    preservation   and  improvement  of    the    Towns 
Land  on  the  Neck"  was  read  and  considered,  whereupon 
Voted,  that  Mr.  James  Richardson 
Mr.  Henderson  Inches 
Mr.  William  Wkitwell 
Mr.  Edward  Payne 
Mr.  Thomas  Walley 
be  a  Committee  to  Consider  of  this  Matter,  and  Report  at  the 
Adjournment. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant,  Viz*.  —  "To  enquire  into  the  state 
of  the  Grist  Mills,  and  the  Reason  why  that  near  the  Bridge  has 
been  so  long  unimproved "  and  determine  what  is  necessary 
to  be  done  relative  to  said  Mills"  was  read  and  debated, 
whereupon 

Voted,  that  John  Tuder  Esq. 

Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esqr. 
John  Barret  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  Consider  of  this   Matter,   and  Report  at  the 
Adjournm*. 

The  Petition  of  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  a  late  Collector  of  Taxes 
praying,  "  that  a  further  Time  may  be  allowed  him  to  Collect  his 
Outstanding  Debts,  that  he  may  be  enabled  thereby  to  compleat 
the  Obligation  [75.]  Of  his  Bond  "  was  read  and  largely  debated, 
whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Prayer  of  the  Petition  be  granted,  end  that  a 
further  Time  of  Six  Months  be  allowed  him  for  Collecting  his 
Taxes,  and  that  the  Treasurer  be  directed  to  stay  Execution  untill 
that  Time 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz*. — "To  consider  of  the  Re- 
quest of  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants,  that  the  Town  would  come 
into  some  Methods  for  the  prevention  of  Frauds  in  the  purchase 
of  Hay  and  Wood ;  and  also  whether  further  Measures  may  not 
be  taken  for  the  Assistance  of  the  Assessors  relative  to  Dooming 
the  Inhabitants"  was  read  and  debated  whereupon, 
Voted,  that  Mr.  Samuel  Blodgett 
Samuel  Swift  Esq. 
Thomas  Daws  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  Consider  of  these  Matters  &  Report  at  the 
Adjournment. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of 
the  Town  be  given  to  the  Author  of  a  course  of  Letters  lately 
published  and  signed  A  Farmer,  and  that         ... 
Dr.  Benjamin  Church 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
Dr.  Joseph  Warren 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  prepare  and  publish  a  Letter  of  Thanks  ac- 
cordingly   


242  City  Document  No.  88. 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Thursday  the  22d. 
Day  of  March  Inst1.  1 0  O'Clock  A  :   M  :  

Tuesday  the  22d.  March  17G8  — 10  O'clock  A:M:  Met  ac- 
cording to  Adjournment 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Five  Constables,  the 
Persons  chose  into  that  Office  are 

[76.]      Mess™.  Benjamin  White 
Edward  Hall 
Samuel  Bernard 
Stephen  Symms 
John  Wells 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  two  Clerks  of  the  Market, 
and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared,  that 
Mr.  Samuel  Calf 
Mr.  Nicholas  Bowes 
were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Committee  on  the  Farmers  Letters  having  Reported,  had 
leave  of  the  Town  to  Report  again 

The  Petition  of  Mr.  James  Dalton  "  that  he  may  be  reimbursed 
the  Sum  he  remains  indebted  for  compleating  the  Pavement  of  the 
New  Street  leading  from  Water  Street  into  Milk  Street "  was  read, 
whereupon 

Voted,  that  —  Mr.  William  Fairfield 
Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
Thomas  Daws  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  take  the  same  into  Consideration  and  Report  as 
soon  as  may  be  — — 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams  a  late  Collector  of  Taxes  came  into  Meeting 
and  informed  the  Inhabitants,  that  he  should  at  the  expiration  of 
the  term  allowed  by  the  Town  for  the  Collecting  for  Collecting  his 
Taxes,  by  their  Vote  the  14  Instant  lay  a  state  of  his  Affairs 
before  the  Town 

The  Petition  of  Mr.  James  Carter  Usher  of  the  North  Writing 
School  "that  a  further  Allowance  be  made  him,"  was  read, 
whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  take  this  Petition  into  Consideration,  &  Report  as  soon 
as  may  be  [77.]  Agreable  to  a  printed  Notification  it  was  moved 
&  seconded,  that  the  Votes  passed  on  Monday  last  on  the  Memo- 
rial of  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  Viz'.  — "  That  a  further  Time  of  Six 
Months  be  allowed  him  for  Collecting  his  Taxes ;  and  that  the 
Treasurer  be  directed  to  stay  Execution  untill  that  Time  "  be  now 
Re-Considered ;  and  after  considerable  debate  had  thereon  the 
Question  was  accordingly  put,  which  passed  in  the  Negative  by  a 
great  majority 

Adjourned 'to  3  O'Clock  P :  M : 

3  O'Clock  P :  M  :  Met  according  to  Adjournment 

Jurors  were  drawn  out  of  the  Box  for  April  Court,  and  a  List 

delivered  to  Mr.  Constable' Barbour 

Mr.  Abraham  Howard 

was  chosen  a  Surveyer  of  Boards,  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Committee  appointed  to  enquire  into  the  state  of  the  Grist 


Boston  Town  Records,  1768.  243 

Mills,    Reported,    and   the   Question  being  put — "Whether  the 

same  shall  be  accepted  —  Passed  in  the  Negative 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Two  Wardens,  and  upon 

sorting  them  it  appeared,  that 

James  Murray     -     -     -     -     excused 
Mr.  Thomas  Leveret 

were  chose  Wardens  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Committee  relative  to  Frauds  in  Wood  &  Hay  &c.  made 
a   Verbal   Report,    and  had   the   leave   of   the   Town  to  Report 

again 

The  Town  taking  into  further  Consideration  the  Petition  of  Mr. 
Samuel  Adams  a  late  Collector  "  that  a  further  Time  may  be  al- 
lowed him  [78.]  To  Collect  his  Outstanding  Debts,"  &c. 
Voted,  that  The  Moderator  Mr.  Otis 
Richard  Dana  E?q. 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  wait  upon  the  Prov- 
ince Treasurer  and  Mr.  Sheriff  G-reanleaff  to  desire  that  the  War- 
rant of  Distress  or  Execution  issued  by  the  Province  Treasurer 
against  the  said  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  a  defective  Collector  for  this 

Town  1764  may  be  sta}Ted  for  Six  Months 

The  following  Letter  was  Reported  by  the  Committee  appointed 
for  that  purpose  —  Viz'. 

To  the  ingenious  Author  of  certain  patriotick  Letters,  Subscribed 

a  Farmer 

Much  Respected  Sir 

When  the  Rights  and  Liberties,  of  the  numerous  and  Loyal 
Inhabitants  of  this  extensive  Continent  are  in  imminent  Danger 
—  when  the  inveterate  Enemies  of  these  Colonies  are  not  more 
assideous  to  forge  Fetters  for  them,  then  deligent  to  delude  the 
People,  and  to  persuade  them  to  an  indolent  Acquiescence  :  At  this 
alarming  Period,  when  to  Reject  is  deemed  to  Revolt,  and  to  oppose 
such  Measures  as  are  injudicious  and  destructive,  is  construed  as 
a  formal  Attempt  to  subvert  Order  and  Government;  when  to 
Reason  is  to  Rebel ;  and  a  ready  submission  to  the  Rod  of  Power, 
is  solicited  b}'  the  Tenders  of  Place  &  Patronage,  or  urged  by  the 
menace  of  danger  and  disgrace ;  Tis  to  you  worthy  Sir !  that 
America  is  obliged  for  a  most  seasonable,  sensible  loyal  &  vigor- 
ous Vindication  of  her  invaded  Rights  &  Liberties :  Tis  to  you  the 
distinguished  Honor  is  due ;  that  when  many  of  the  Friends  of 
Liberty  were  ready  to  fear  its  utter  Subversion :  Armed  with 
Truth,  supported  by  the  immutable  Laws  of  Nature,  the  common 
Inheritance  of  Man,  and  leaning  on  the  Pillars  of  the  British  Con- 
stitution ;  you  seasonably  brought  your  Aid,  opposed  impending 
Ruin  [79.]  Awakened  the  most  indolent  and  inactive  to  a  sense 
of  diinger,  reanimated  the  hopes  of  those,  who  had  before  exerted 
themselves  in  the  Cause  of  Liberty,  and  instructed  America  in  the 
best  means  to  obtain  Redress. 

Nor  is  this  Western  World  alone  indebted  to  your  Wisdom, 
Fortitude  and  Patriotism  ;  Great  Britain  also  may  be  confirmed 
by  you,  that  to  be  truly  great  and  successful  she  must  be  Just: 


244  City  Document  No.  88. 

That  to  Oppress  America  is  to  violate  her  own  Honours,  defeat 
her  brightest  Prospects,  and  contract  her  spreading  Empire 

To  such  eminent  Worth  and  Virtue  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston,  the  Capitol  of  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay 
in  full  Town  Meeting  Assembled,  express  their  earliest  Gratitude  : 
Actuated  Ihemselves  by  the  same  generous  Principles,  which 
appear  with  so  much  Lustuve  in  your  useful  Labours,  they  will 
not  fail  warmly  to  recommend,  and  industriously  to  promote  that 
Union  among  the  several  Colonies,  which  is  so  indispensably 
necessary  for  the  security  of  the  whole 

Tho :  such  superior  Merit,  must  assuredly  in  the  closest  Recess, 
enjoy  the  divine  satisfaction  of  having  saved  &  possibly  saved 
this  People  ;  tho'  vield  from  our  view,  you  modestly  shun  the  de- 
served applause  of  Millions ;  permit  us  to  intrude  upon  your  Re- 
tirement, and  salute  the  Farmer  as  the  Friend  of  Americans,  and 
the  common  Benefactor  of  Mankind 

The  above  Letter  was  read,  and  unanimously  accepted  by 
the   Town,  and   ordered   to   be   published   in   the   several   News 

Papers 

Jobn  Powell 
was  chosen  a  Warden  for  the  Year  ensuing: 


Upon  a  Motion  made  by  Coll°  Jackson  the  Vote  passed  October 
9.  1767  relative  to  a  Gun  House  was  read  —  and  the  Question 
being  put,  viz1  —  Whether  it  be  the  sense  of  the  Town  that  the 
Selectmen  are  by  said  Vote  impowered  to  Erect  another  Building 
for  said  Service  in  such  place  as  they  shall  think  convenient  — 
Passed  in  the  Affermative 

[80.]                         Mr.  Henry  Lucas 
was  chosen  a  Culler  of  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing: 


Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  Things  which  remain  unfinished  at 
this  Meeting  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  General  Town 
Meeting  in  May  next 

Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  &  hereby 
are  given  to  the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  tbe 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  &  warned  in  publick  Town  Meet- 
ing Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  4th  Day  of  May. 
Anno  Domini  1768  


Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Samuel  Blair 


The   Precept   and   Warrant   for  calling   the   Meeting 

read 

Sundry  Laws read 


[81.]  Joseph  Jackson  Esq.  one  of  the  Selectmen  proposed 
in  their  Name  to  the  Inhabitants  Assembled  to  proceed  to  the 
choice  of  one  or  more  Persons  to  Represent  them  in  the  Great  & 
General  Court  or  Assembly  to  be  held  in  Boston  upon  Wednesdav 
the  25  Day  of  May  Current,  and  in  order  thereto  to  consider  and 


Boston  Town  Records,  17G8.  245 

assertain  the  number  of  Gentlemen  to  be  Elected ;  accordingly  it 
was  Voted  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of  Four  Represeutatives  and 
then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen,  that  no  Votes  will  be 
received  but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and  that  they  propose  the  Poll 

shall  be  closed  at  12.  O'Clock 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  the  Number  of  the  same  were  found 
to  be  440.  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that  the  Four  fol- 
lowing Gentlemen  were  chose  — Viz*. 

The  Houble.  James  Olis  Esq.    ------     410 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq.     -     -     -     -     433 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 432 

John  Hancock  Esq. 414 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in 
their  Votes  for  a  Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  in  order  that  the 
Town  may  proceed  in  transacting  the  other  Affairs  mentioned  in 
the  "Warrant ;  accordingly  the  Inhabitants  withdrew,  and  brought 
in  their  Votes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared,  that  the  Honble. 

James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen 

To  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  Boston  in  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  May  4.  1768 

Pursuant  to  a  Vote  of  the  Town  of  Boston  at  their  Annual 
Meeting  the  8.  of  May  1767  desiring  the  Selectmen  to  visit  the 
several  public  Schools  in  the  Town,  and  to  invite  such  Gentlemen 
to  accompany  them  therein  as  they  should  think  proper,  and  to 

Report  thereon 

We  the  Subscribers  accordingly  attended  that  service  on 
Wednesday  the  First  Day  of  July  last  accompanied  by  the  fol- 
lowing [S£.]  Gentlemen,  Viz'.  

The  Honble.  James  Bowdoin  Esq. 

Nathaniel  Sparhawk  Esq. 

Andrew  Oliver  Esq. 

Thomas  Hubbard  Esq. 

Harrison  Gray  Esq. 

John  Erving  Esq. 

Thomas  Flucker  Esq. 

James  Pitts  Esq. 
.  The  Representatives  of  the  Town 

The  Overseers  of  the  Poor 

The  Revd.  Joseph  Sewall  D.  D. 

Charles  Chansey  D.  D. 

Mather  Byles  D.  D. 

Mr.  Samuel  Mather 

Mr.  Samuel  Checkley 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Pemberton 

Mr.  Andrew  Eliot 

Mr.  Samuel  Cooper 

Mr.  Samuel  Checkley 

Mr.  Samuel  Blair 

Mr.  Penuil  Bowen 

Mr.  Semion  Howard 

Benjamin  Austin  Esq. 


246  City  Document  No.  88. 

William  Vassal  Esq. 
Mr.  Moreton 
Mr.  John  Edwards 
Mr.  William  D.  Cheever 
Mr.  Loring 
Mr.  John  Joy 
Dr.  John  Sprague 
Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
Mr.  Edward  Pa}'ne 
[83.]  Mr.  John  Boylston 

Cap1.  Nathaniel  Greenwood 
Newman  Grenough  Esq. 
Mr.  Thomas  Grenough 
The  Honble.  James  Oti8  Esq. 
And  found  the  South  Grammar  School  had  147  Scholars ;  the 

Writing 
North  Grammar  School  35  Scholars  ;  the  South  Grammar  School 
270     Scholars    the    North    Writing   School    284   Scholars;    the 
Writing  School  in  Queen  Street  217  Scholars;   all  in  very  good 

order  

Voted,  that  the  above  Report  be  accepted,  and  that  the  Gentle- 
men the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  visit  the  public  Schools  the  Year 
ensuing,  and  invite  such  Gentlemen  to  accompany  them  as  they 

may  think  proper 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  3  O'Clock  P :  M : 
3.  O'Clock  P :  M :   Met  according  to  adjournment. 
Upon   a   Motion   made   and  seconded,  Voted,  that   the   Town 
Treasurer  be  directed  to  assertain  the  Town  of  the  Sums  of  Money 
which  they  have  hired  upon  Interest,  which  was  accordingly  done 
by  the  Treasurer 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  and  twenty  Pounds  be  al- 
lowed and  paid  unto  Mr.  John  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of 
the  South  Grammar  School,  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be 
paid  him  quarterly,  as  it  shall  become  due,  &  to  commence  at  the 
expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  &  paid 
unto  Mr.  Samuel  Hunt,  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North 
Grammar  School,  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
Quarterly,  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expira- 
tion of  the  last  Quarter 

[84.]  Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  al- 
low'd  and  paid  unto  Mr.  Abiah  Holbrook  for  his  Salary  as  Master 
of  the  Writing  School  in  the  Common  for  the  Year  ensuing,  the 
same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and   to 

commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allow'd  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  John  Procter  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writing 
School  in  Queen  Street  for  the  Year  ensuing,  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  ex- 
piration of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 


Boston  Town  Records,  1708.  247 

paid  unto  Mr.  John  Tileston,  for  His  Salary  as  Master  of  the 
North  Writing  School  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expira- 
tion of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  .lames  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  South  Grammar 
School,  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly 
as  it  shall  become  due  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the 
last  Quaiter 

Voted,  that  a  further  Sum  of  Forty  Pounds  be  allow'd  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  James  Lovel  as  an  encouragement  for  him  to  remain  and 
exert  himself  in  the  Service  of  the  Town  the  ensuing  Year ;  the 
same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due  &  to  com- 
mence at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quai'ter. 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  (Viz'.)  "  Whether  the  Town  will 
take  any  measures  to  supply  the  vacancy  at  the  School  in  Queen 
Street,  occasioned  by  Mr.  Holyokes  Death  "  was  read  &  considered, 
whereupon 

[85.]  Voted,  that  Mr.  James  Carter,  who  has  for  some 
Yrears  past  been  an  Assistant  to  Mr.  John  Tileston,  be  and  hereby 
is  appointed  an  Usher  to  the  Writing  School  in  Queen  Street,  of 
which  Mr.  John  Procter  is  now  Master. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  James  Carter  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  Writing  School  in 
Queen  Street  the  Year  ensuing,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly 
as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the 
last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  a  further  Sum  of  Twenty  five  Pounds  be  allowed 
and  paid  unto  Mr.  James  Carter  as  an  encouragement  for  him  to 
exert  himself  in  the  Sei'vice  in  the  Town  the  ensuing  Year,  the 
same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  com- 
mence at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allowed  &  paid  unto 
Mr.  Abiah  Holbrook  Master  of  the  Writing  School  in  the  Com- 
mon for  providing  an  Assistant  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to 
be  paid  him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at 
the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  out  of  the  Town  Treasurer  unto  Mr.  David  Jeffries  for  his 
services  as  Treasurer  of  the  Town  the  Year  past,  and  for  all  his 
Expences  in  that  Office 

Voted,  that  the  Town  Treasm-er  be  and  he  hereby  is  directed  and 
impowered  to  allow  the  several  School  Masters  Interest  on  the 
Sums  due  to  them  from  the  Date  of  their  Warrants  to  the  Time  of 
payment 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Six  thousand  Pounds  be  raised  by  a  Tax 
upon  Polls  &  Estates  within  this  Town,  for  Relief  of  the  Poor,  & 
defreying  other  necessary  Charges  arising  within  the  Town  the 
ensuing  Year 

[86.]  Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that  the 
Town  Treasurer  be,  and  he  hereby  is  desired  and  impowerod  to 
borrow  on  Interest  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  thirty  three  Pounds 


248  City  Document  No.  88. 

six  Shillings  and  eight  Ponce,  for  the  use  of  the  Overseers  of  the 

Poor,  to  purchase  Grain  &c.  for  the  Almshouse ■ 

see  further.  — 
Tho  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  "  that  application  may 
be  made  to  the  General  Assembly  at  the  next  Session,  that  the 
Town  may  be  impowered  by  Law  to  choose  an  additional  Number 
of  Fire- Wards  "  —  was  read,  and  after  Debate  had  thereon  the 
Question  being  put,  Whether  the  Prayer  of  the  Petition  shall  be 

grante:!  —  Passed  in  the  Negative 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  —  Voted,  that  at  the  Annual 
Town  Meeting  in  March  next,  there  shall  be  One  I  ire-Ward  chosen 
out  of  each  of  the  Wards  in  this  Town,  the  Number  allowed  by 

Law  permitting  it . 

The  Petition  of  William  Cooper  Town  Clerk  "that  the  Select- 
men may  be  permitted  to  allow  him  for  his  extra  Services  the  Year 
past,  as  had  been  allowed  him  and  the  former  Clerk  in  preceeding 
Years,  a  doubt  having  arisen  in  their  Minds  as  to  the  propriety  of 
their  doing  it  without  the  permission  of  the  Town "  —  was  read 

and  debate  had  thereon  whereupon 

Voted,  that  The  Honble.  James  Pitts,  Esq. 
The  HonbIe.  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
Richard  Dana  Esq. 
The  Honble.  Thomas  Hubbard  Esq. 
The  Honble.  Thomas  Flucker  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  take  the  same  into 
Consideration,  and  they  are   desired  to  Report  at  the  Adjourn- 
ment   

The  Clause  in  the  Warrant  Viz'.  "  Whether  a  new  Gun  House 
shall  be  Erected  of  Brick,  for  the  use  of  the  Train  of  the  Artillery 
belonging  to  the  Regiment  of  Boston,"  was  read,  whereupon 

[87.]  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  directed 
and  impowered  to  cause  to  be  Erected  as  soon  as  may  be  a  Gun 

House  of  Brick,  for  the  use  of  the  said  Train  of  Artillery. 

The  Clause  in  the  Warrant  (Viz1.)  —Whether  the  Town  will 
take  any  Measures  to  encourage  the  Erecting  of  the  New  Mills  on 
the  Mill  Creek  as  has  been  proposed,"  was  read  —  whereupon 
Voted,  that  Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 
Mr.  Edward  Payne 
Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
John  Barrett  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  take  this  Matter  into  Consideration,  and  Re- 
port their  Opinion  at  the  Adjournment 

That   Article   in   the   Warrant    (Viz4.)   "  To  considc  r  of  some 
proper  Representations  to  be  made  respecting  the  Difficulties  the 
Trade  labours  under  by  means  of  the  late  Regulations,  and  Methods 
to  be  taken  for  our  Relief  "  was  read  —  whereupon  Voted,  that 
Mr.  Henderson  Inches 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
The  Honble.  James  Otis,  Esq. 
Dr.  Joseph  Warren 
Dr.  Benjamin  Church 


Boston  Town  Eecoeds,  1768.  249 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
The  Honble.  Thomas  Cushing  E3q. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  take  the  same  into 
Consideration  and  Report  at  the  Adjournment 

The  Committee  appointed  the  14th.  Day  of  March  last,  to  procure 
Subscriptions  from  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  for  carrying  on 
the  Manufacture  of  Duck,  or  Sail  Cloth,  and  for  encouraging  & 
assisting  [88.]  The  Gentlemen  who  have  undertaken  the  same 
—  Report,  that  since  their  Appointment  they  have  used  their  ut- 
most Endeavours  to  get  Subscriptions  for  the  Sums  that  the  Town 
Judged  necessary  to  be  raised  for  the  Undertakers  in  order  to 
enable  them  to  begin  and  carry  on  said  Manufacture,  having  made 
personal  application  to  almost  every  Inhabitant  that  the  Committee 
apprehended  was  of  Ability  to  afford  any  Assistance ;  but  it  is 
with  concern  that  the  Committee  must  inform  the  Town  that  their 
endeavours  have  not  met  with  that  success  they  expected,  having 
been  able  to  get  Subscribed  but  about  One  hundred  &  fifty  Pounds 
being  half  the  Sum  thought  necessary  to  be  paid  down  for  the 
purchase  of  Utensils,  and  about  One  hundred  Pounds  as  an  annual 
subscription  for  five  and  Seven  Years,  being  but  a  third  part  of  the 
Sum  Judged  necessary  to  be  raised  Annually  for  carrying  on  this 
Manufacture,  and  effecting  the  good  end  proposed  by  the  Town. 

The  above  report  having  been  read  —  Voted,  that  said  Commit- 
tee be  desired  to  use  their  best  endeavours  to  obtain  further  Sub- 
scriptions for  the  purposes  aforesaid 

To   the    Freeholders    and    Inhabitants    of    Boston   in    Town 

Meeting   Assembled  May  4  :  1768 

Gentlemen 

We  the  Subscribers  having  undertaken  to  carry  on  the  Manu- 
facture of  Duck  or  Sail  Cloth  in  this  Town  on  our  own  account 
and  risque,  upon  the  Proposals  and  terms  mentioned  in  the  Report 
of  the  Town  Committee,  made  the  13th.  of  January  last,  which 
was  unanimously  accepted  by  the  Town,  and  the  Encouragement 
therein  given  to  the  Undertakers  Judged  by  the  Town  to  be  nec- 
essary ;  another  Committee  was  then  chose  to  obtain  Subscriptions 
from  the  Inhabitants  for  that  purpose  who  we  are  assured  have 
diligently  apply'd  themselves  to  this  service,  but  it  is  with  concern 
we  find  by  their  Report  made  this  Day,  that  the  whole  of  the  Sub- 
scriptions they  have  been  able  to  procure,  are  greatly  short  of  the 
Sum  Judged  absolutely  necessary  for  setting  up  and  carrying  on 
this  Manufacture,  so  as  to  establish  it  in  [89.]  The  manner 
proposed,  viz4.  —  that  it  might  be  a  clayly  and  constant  Employ- 
ment for  the  Poor.  We  would  inform  the  Town  that  considering 
the  good  ends  designed  by  this  Manufacture,  and  no  ways  doubt- 
ing but  the  Encouragement  proposed  by  the  Selectmen  would  be 
obtained,  we  have  since  the  said  13th.  of  January  spent  much 
Time,  taking  great  pains  and  been  at  some  expence  in  our  prep- 
arations for  cntring  upon  this  new  Manufacture,  and  we  should 
have  thought  ourselves  happy  in  being  Instruments  of  establishing 
the  same,  as  it  would  have  been  such  a  constant  employ  for  the 
Poor,  and  been  a  means  of  extricating  the  Town  from  the  heavy 


250  City  Document  No.  88. 

Expence  incurred  in  suppoi  ting  them.  We  cnnt  but  express  our 
surprize  that  a  Manufacture  so  beneficial  to  the  Town  in  general, 
and  the  Poor  in  particular  should  meet  with  so  small  encourage- 
ment especially  from  the  most  wealthy  of  its  Inhabitants,  many 
of  whom  have  refused  contributing  any  thing  to  this  Undertak- 
ing. It  has  been  suggested  by  some  that  the  profits  arising  to 
the  Undertakers  will  be  a  sufficient  encouragement  to  set  up  and 
carry  on  this  Manufacture  at  their  own  Expence  and  risque, 
such  Persons  must  be  very  ignorant  of  this  Affair;  our  design  in 
pursuing  this  Business  is  not  to  enrich  ourselves,  but  for  employ- 
ing the  many  Poor  we  have  in  the  Town  and  giving  them  a  Live- 
lihood. We  do  now  openly  propose  that  if  any  of  these  Gentlemen 
or  others  of  the  Inhabitants  will  in  our  stead  undertake  &  carry 
on  this  Manufacture,  so  as  that  the  Poor  may  be  Employed, 
we  will  now  chearfully  give  up  our  right  to  the  Manufactory  House 
(generously  granted  us  by  the  General  Court)  and  to  all  the 
Moneys  Subscribed,  and  will  be  glad  to  be  Subscribers  ourselves. 
We  think  we  have  done  everything  in  our  power  to  employ  the 
Poor,  tho'  it  is  like  to  fail  of  success,  through  the  insufficiency  of 

the  Subscriptions 

John  Barrett, 
ezekiel   goldthwait 
Meletiah   Bourn 
Edward  Payne 
Henderson  Inches 
[90.]     Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen  be  and  they 
hereb}r  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  act  upon  the  List  of  Jurors. 
Samuel  Swift  and  Thomas  Daws,   Esq",  two  of  the  Committee 
appointed  on  the  14  Day  of  March  last  "  To  consider  of  the  Re- 
quest of  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants  that  the  Town  would  come 
into  some  Methods  for  the  prevention  of  Frauds  in  the  purchase 
of  liny  and  Wood  ;  and  also  whether  further  Measures  may  not 
be  taken  for  the  Assistance  of  the  Assessors  relative  to  Dooming 
the  Inhabitants  "  having  desired  to  be  excused  from  that  service, 
were  accordingly  excused  by  the  Town,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Henderson 

and  Mr.  James  Richardson  were  appointed  in  their  stead 

A  Motion  was  then  made  and  seconded  to  reconsider  that  part 
of  the  above  Vote  respecting  the  Assessors,  and  the  Question 
being  put  it  passed  in  the  Negative. 

Voted,  that  the  Assessors  be  and  hereby  are  directed  to  furnish 
the  above  Committee  with  the  Books  and  Papers  they  may  re- 
quire   

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  That  the  Selectmen 
be  directed  to  refuse  the  use  of  Faneuil  Hall  to  his  Excelly.  the 
Governor  and  Council  on  the  Ensuing  Election  Day  unless  they 
shall  be  ascertained  that  the  Commissioners  of  the  Board  of  Cus- 
toms, or  their  Attendants  are  not  to  be  invited  to  dine  there  on 

said  Day 

The  Committee  appointed  the  22d.  of  March  last  to  consider  the 
Petition  of  Mr.  James  Dalton,  praying,  "  that  he  may  be  reim- 
bursed the  Sum  he  remains  indebted  for  compleating  the  pave- 
ment of  the  new  Street  boding  from  Water  Street  to  Milk  Street." 


Boston   Town  Records,  1768.  251 

Reported  —  That  they  had  heard  Mr.  Dalton  and  compared  his 
Petition  with  the  Town  Grant,  and  apprehend  there  is  nothing 
full}7  due  to  him  from  the  Town 


[.]     The  Report  on  the  other  side  having  been    read,  the 
Question  was  put,  Whether  the  same  shall  be  accepted  —  Passed 

in  the  Affermative 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Monday  the  23d.  of 
May  Instant  10  O'Clock  Before  Noon 

May  23.  10.  O'Clock  A  :  M  :   Met  according  to  Adjournment 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  Consideration  of  the 
Petition  of  William  Cooper  Town  Clerk  —  Report  that  having  met 
and  fully  heard  the  within  named  William  Cooper  in  support  of 
his  within  mentioned  Petition,  with  the  Objections  of  the  Select- 
men of  Boston  against  it  (except  two  of  them  who  appeared  & 
made  no  Objections)  and  after  viewing  the  Selectmens  Minute 
Books  of  many  Years  past,  and  enquiring  of  diverse  of  the  Select- 
men of  Boston,  do  find  that  it  hath  been  the  constant  usage  an. I 
practise  of  the  Selectmen  in  passing  the  Accounts  of  the  Town  Clerk 
to  allow  them  from  Fifteen  to  Seventeen  Pounds  lawful  Money  by 
the  Year  for  their  Extraordinary  Services  over  and  above  their 
particular  Aunual  Accounts ;  that  for  several  Years  past  the 
present  Clerk  has  been  allowed  twenty  Pounds  a  Year  for  such 
services,  saving  the  two  last  Years,  in  which  they  have  made  him 
no  Allowance  at  all  for  them ;  That  upon  comparing  the  said  Mr. 
Coopers  Accounts  of  particulars  for  those  two  Years  with  diverse 
of  his  former  Accounts  as  well  as  of  the  Accounts  of  his  imme- 
diate Predecessors,  they  can  see  no  reason  for  denying  him  a  meet 
reward  for  his  extra  services  in  those  Years ;  especially  consider- 
ing that  besides  the  usual  extra  services  in  those  two  Years,  as 
w ell  as  in  former  Years,  the  drawing  Orders  Certificates  Writing 
Letters,  and  drawing  other  Writings,  attending  on  Subscribers  for 
promoting  Oeconomy  the  last  Year,  require  considerable  labour  & 
expend  much  Time,  besides  his  constant  Personal  attendance  on  the 
Selectmen  at  their  Meetings,  other  than  their  stated  ones  &c.  &c. 
which  last  Article  of  [92.]  Attendance  alone,  at  the  rate  of  the 
Town  Clerks  allowance  for  their  stated  Meetings  amounts  in  the 
last  Year  to  above  Eleven  Pounds  of  lawful  Money — Wherefore 
upon  the  whole  the  Committee  are  unanimously  of  Opinion,  that 
the  said  Mr.  Cooper  deserves  at  least  Seventeen  Pounds  of  lawful 
Money  a  Year  for  his  extra  services  in  each  of  the  two  Years 
past,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  Thirty  four  Pounds  of  like  Money 
over  and  above  the  amount  of  his  Account  of  Particulars  for  each 
of  those  two  Years,  which  have  been  already  allowed  him.     All 

which  is  humbly  submitted  &c 

James  Pitts,  p  Order 

The  above  Report  having  been  read,  and  very  fully  Considered, 
the  Question  was  put.  Viz'.  — Whether  the  above  Report  shall  be 
accepted  — Pas«ed  in  the  Affermative 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  things  which  remain  unfinished  at 
this  Meeting  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  next  General 
Town  Meeting,  to  be  then  Considered  of,  and  acted  upon  at  said 
Meeting 


552  City  Document  No.  88. 

Voted,  unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  &  hereby 
\re  given  to  the  Honourable  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of 
ihis  Meeting  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[93.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
>f  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  23d. 
Day  of  May.  Anno  Domini.  1768 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     ...     -     read 

The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting,  and  took  the  Oaths  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Connecticut  New  Hampshire  &  Rhode  Island 
Governments,  as  required  by  an  Act  of  this  Province 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Three  O'Clock.  P :  M : 

3  O'Clock  P :  M  :   Met  according  to  Adjournment 

A  letter  from  Samuel  Sewall  &  William  Phillips  Esq™.  &  Mr. 
Timothy  Newell  late  Selectmen  was  laid  before  the  Town 

The  Town  took  up  the  Clause  in  the  Warrant  relative  to  the 
choice  of  three  Selectmen  in  the  room  of  Samuel  Sewall,  &  William 
Phillips  Esq.  and  Mr.  Timothy  Newell  who  have  Resigned,  and 
after  some  debate  respecting  the  legality  of  choosing  others  in  the 
room  of  those  who  had  Resigned,  after  having  accepted  and  acted 
as  Selectmen,  since  March  last — the  Question  was  put,  Viz'. — 
Whether  the  Town  will  now  proceed  to  the  choice  of  three  Select- 
men ;  but  a  doubt  arising  respecting  the  Vote,  a  Poll  was  de- 
manded on  the  Question,  by  Mr.  Christopher  Clark,  and  upon 
Polling  it  appeared  that  the  Town  was  in  the  Affermative 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  Choice  of  Three  Selectmen,  and  the 
Votes  being  brought  in  sorted,  it  appeared,  that 

[94.]                        Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
Samuel  Pemberton  Esq. 
Mr.  Henderson  Inches 
were  chose  Selectmen  for  the  remainder  of  the  Year 

The  Clause  in  the  Warrant  Viz'.  — ■"  To  take  the  Sense  of  the 
Town  with  Respect  to  an  Excise  on  spirituous  Liquors,  and  to 
Instruct  the  Representatives  of  the  Town  thereupon,  if  it  should 
be  Judg'd  convenient,  agreable  to  the  recommendation  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  to  the  several  Towns  in  the  Province  at 
the  last  Session  of  the  General  Assembly —  was  read  and  debated, 
whereupon 

Voted,  that  it  be  and  hereby  is  an  Instruction  to  the  Represen- 
tatives of  this  Town,  that  they  use  their  influence  in  the  General 
Assembly  at  the  ensuing  Session,  that  there  may  not  be  any 
Excise  laid  upon  Spirituous  Liquors  in  any  shape  whatsoever 

Mr.  Blodgett  Chairman  of  the  Towns  Committee  relative  to 
Assessors,  made  a  verbal  Report,  and  also  complained  of  the 
treatment  they  had  received  from  the  Assessors  upon  application 
made  to  them  for  the  Tax  Books 

Moved  and  seconded,  that  there  be  a  re-consideration  of  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1768.  253 

Vote  appointing  a  Committee  to  examine  the  Assessors  Books  &c. 
and  the  Question  being  accordingly  put — Passed  the  Afferma- 
tive 

It  was  moved  and  accordingly  put,  That  there  be  a  reconsidera- 
tion of  a  late  Vote  enjoining  the  Selectmen  to  refuse  the  use  of 
Faneuil  Hall  to  his  Excellency  the  Governor  &  Council  on  the 
ensuing  Election  Day  unless  they  shall  be  ascertained  that  the 
Commissioners  of  the  Board  of  Customs  or  their  Attendants  are 
not  to  be  Invited  to  dine  there  on  said  Day  —  which  Question 
passed  in  the  Negative  almost  unanimously. 

[95.]  Upon  a  motion  made  and  seconded  Voted,  that  the 
Town  Treasurer  be  and  he  hereby  is  impowered  to  borrow  on 
Interest  the  further  Sum  of  Sixty  six  Pounds  thirteen  Shillings, 
and  four  Pence  for  the  use  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  to  pur- 
chase Grain  &  for  the  Almshouse 

The  Committee  relative  to  Grist  Mills  not  being  ready  to  Report 
at  this  Time,  were  desired  to  Report,  the  next  Town  Meeting 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  Things  which  remain  unfinished  at 
this  Meeting,  be  referred  over  to  the  next  Town  Meeting  to  be 
then  considered  of  and  acted  upon  at  said  Meeting 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given 
to  the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for 
dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  legal  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  at  Faneuil  Hall  June  14th :  Anno.  Dom : 
1768 

The  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -     -     -     Read 


The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting,  and  took  the  usual  Oaths,  respecting  paying  and  Re- 
ceiving Bills  of  the  New  England  Governments 

[96.]  Faneuil  Hall  not  being  capacious  enough  to  receive  all 
the  Inhabitants  assembled,  and  those  within  the  Walls  being  in- 
commoded by  the  crowd  —  A  Motion  was  made  and  it  was  accord- 
ingly Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Meet  at  the  Old 
South  Church ;  at  which  place  the  Inhabitants  Met  according  to 
Adjournm'. 

After  very  cool  and  deliberate  Debates  upon  the  distressed 
Circumstances  of  the  Town,  and  the  present  critical  Situation  of 
their  Affairs,  it  was  unanimously,  Voted,  that 

The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  Moderator 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 

John  Ruddock  Esq. 

John  Hancock  Esq. 

John  Rowe  Esq. 

Samuel  Pemberton  Esq. 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches 

Dr.  Thomas  Young 


254  City  Document  No.  88. 

Dr.  Joseph  Warren 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 

Dr.  Benjamin  Church 

Samuel  Quincy  Esq. 

Mr.  Edward  Payne 

Cap'.  Daniel  Malcomb 

Richard  Dana  Esq. 

Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 

Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 

The  Honble.  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Mr.  Josiah  Quincy 
be  &  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  wait  on  his  Excellency 
the   Governor   of    the   Province,    with   the   following   Petition  — 

Viz4. 

[97.]     Province  of        ^j    To  His  Excellency  Francis  Bernard 

the  Esq.  Governour  aud  Commander 

Massachusetts      [        in  Chief,  in  and  over  said  Prov- 

Bay J        ince  and  Vice  Admiral  the  same. 

The  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  in  Town  Meeting  legally 

Assembled 

Humbly  Shew 

That  your  Petitioners  consider  the  British  Constitution  as  the 
Basis  of  their  safety  and  happiness ;  By  that  is  established  no 
Man  shall  be  govern'd  nor  taxed  but  by  himself  or  Representative 
legally  and  fairly  chosen  ;  and  in  which  he  does  not  give  his  owu 
consent.  In  open  violation  of  these  fundamental  Rights  of  Brit- 
ons, Laws  &  Taxes  are  imposed  on  us  to  which  we  have  not  only  not 
given  our  consent  but  against  which  we  have  most  firmly  Remon- 
strated —  Dutiful  Petitions  have  been  preferred  to  our  most  gracious 
Sovereign,  which  (though  to  the  great  consternation  of  the  People, 
we  now  learn,  have  been  cruelly  and  insiduously  prevented  reach- 
ing the  Royal  Presence)  we  have  waited  to  receive  a  Gracious 
answer  to,  with  the  greatest  attention  to  the  publick  peace,  untill 
we  find  ourselves  invaded  with  an  armed  force,  Siezing,  impress- 
ing the  Persons  of  our  fellow  Subjects  contrary  to  express  Acts 
of  Parliament.  Menaces  have  been  thrown  out,  fit  only  for  Barba- 
rians which  already  effect  us  in  the  most  sensible  manner,  and 
threaten  us  with  Famine  &  Desolation,  as  all  Navigation  is  ob- 
structed, upon  which  alone  our  whole  support  depends,  and  the 
Town  is  at  this  Crisis  in  a  Situation  nearly  such,  as  if  "War  was 
formally  declared  against  it.  To  contend  with  our  Parent  State 
is  in  our  Idea  the  most  shocking  and  dreadful  Extremity ;  but 
tamety  to  relinquish  the  only  security  we  and  our  Posterity  retain 
of  the  enjoyment  of  our  Lives  &  Properties,  without  one  struggle 
is  so  humiliating  and  base,  that  we  cannot  support  the  Reflection ; 
we  apprehend  Sir,  [98.]  That  it  is  at  your  option,  in  your  power, 
and  we  would  hope  in  your  inclination,  to  prevent  this  distressed 
and  Justly  incensed  People,  from  effecting  too  much,  and  from 
the  shame  and  reproach  of  attempting  too  little. 

As  the  Board  of  Customs  have  thought  fit,  of  their  own  motion 
to  relinquish  the  exercise  of  their  Commission  here,  and  as  we 


Boston  Town  Records,  1768.  £55 

cannot  but  hope,  that  being  convinced  of  the  impropriety  and  in- 
justice of  the  appointment  of  a  Board,  with  such  enormous  power, 
and  the  inevitable  distruction  which  would  ensue  from  the  exercise 
of  their  office,  will  never  reasume  it.  We  flatter  ourselves  your 
Excellency  will  in  tenderness  to  this  People,  use  the  best  means  in 
your  power,  to  remove  the  other  grieveance,  we  so  Justly  com- 
plain of,  and  issue  your  immediate  Order  to  the  Commander  of 
his  Majestys  Ship  Romney,  to  remove  from  this  Harbour,  'till  we 

shall  be  ascertained  of  the  Success  of  our  Applications. 

And  your  Petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  & 
Upon  a  motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
Dr.  Joseph  Warren 
be  a  Committee  to  wait  on  his  Excellency,  to  know  when  he  would 

be  pleased  to  receive  the  Towns  Petition 

The  above  Committee  having  Reported,  that  his  Excellency  was 
at  his  Country  Seat ;  it  was  Voted,  that  the  Committee  to  present 
the  Petition  of  this  Town  to  the  G-overnor  be  desired  to  proceed 
immediately   to   his   Seat  at   Roxbury   in   order  to   present  the 

same 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  Seconded,  Voted,  that 

The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  Moderator 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 
John  Ruddock  Esq. 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
[99.]        John  Rowe  Esq. 

Samuel  Pemberton  Esq. 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches 

Dr.  Thomas  Young 

Dr.  Joseph  Warren 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 

Dr.  Benjamin  Church 

Samuel  Quincy  Esq. 

Mr.  Edward  Payne 

Cap4.  Daniel  Malcomb 

Richard  Dana  Esq. 

Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 

Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 

The  Honble.  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 

Mr.  Josiah  Quincy. 

be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  draw  up  a  true  state 
of  some  late  Occurrances  in  this  Town  to  be  transmitted  Mr.  Agent 
Deberdt. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that 
Dr.  Joseph  Warren 
Dr.  Benjamin  Church 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
be  a  Committee  to  prepare  the  form  of  a  Vote,  to  be  laid  before 
the  Town  at  the  Adjournment ;  expressing  their  great  dislike  at 


256  City  Document  No.  88. 

the  manner  of  proceeclure  in  the  Custom  house  Officers  in  lately 
carrying  off.  a  Vessel  from  Hancocks  Wharff ;  and  their  sense  of 
the  ill  consequences  which  must  follow  the  methods  made  use  of 
to  introduce  an  armed  force  into  this  Town  —  to  Report  at  the 
Adjournment 

A  Letter  of  John  Lane  Esq.  from  London,  was  laid  before  the 
Town  by  John  Rowe  Esq.  which  informs  that  he  had  delivered  the 
Letters  to  General  Conway  &  Coll0.  Barry  in  Person,  and  asked 
their  [100.]  Permission  to  defre}'  the  Printers  Charge  for  their 
Pictures,  but  was  politely  refused  —  It  was  then  Voted,  that  the 
Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  John  Lane  Esq.  for  his  trouble  and 
Services  in  this  Matter 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Wednesday  next  4. 
O'Clock.  P  :  M :  then  to  meet  at  the  Old  South  Church. 

Wednesday  the  15  of  June  1768  —  4.  O'Clock.  P:  M:  Met  at 
the  Old  South  Church  according  to  Adjournment 

The  Committee  appointed  to  present  the  Towns  Petition  to  the 
Governor,  acquainted  the  Town  with  the  manner  in  which  they 
had  been  received,  and  also  Reported  from  his  Excellency  the 
following  Answer.  Viz'. 

Gentlemen 

My  Office  and  station  make  me  a  very  incompetent  Judge  of  the 
rights  you  claim  against  Acts  of  Parliament ;  and  therefore  it 
would  be  to  no  purpose  for  me  to  express  my  opinion  thereupon. 
All  I  can  say  is,  that  I  shall  not  knowingly  infringe  any  of  your 
Rights  and  Privileges,  but  shall  religeously  maintain  all  those 
which  are  committed  to  me  as  a  servant  of  the  King. 

In  regard  to  the  impressing  men  for  the  Service  of  the  King  in 
his  Ships  of  war,  it  is  practised  in  Great  Britain,  and  all  other  his 
Majestys  Dominions  and  therefore  I  cannot  dispute  it  in  this  part 
of  them.  But  I  shall  use  nry  utmost  endeavors  to  get  it  regulated 
so  as  to  avoid  all  the  inconveniences  to  this  Town,  which  you  are 
apprehensive  of ;  and  from  the  knowledge  I  have  of  Cap'.  Comer, 
I  have  no  doubt  of  my  succeeding  therein. 

I  cannot  pretend  to  enter  into  any  dispute  between  you  and 
your  Parent  State ;  I  desire  to  be  a  faithful  servant  in  regard  to 
both ;  and  I  shall  think  myself  most  highly  honoured,  if  I  can  be 
in  the  lowest  degree  an  Instrument  in  preserving  a  perfect  [101.] 
Conciliation  between  them,  I  can  assure  you  that  if  it  was  as 
much  in  power  as  it  is  in  my  will  it  would  always  be  preserved. 

I  am  obliged  by  all  kinds  of  dut}T,  by  my  general  Instructions  ;  and 
by  his  Majestys  special  orders  to  protect  aid  and  assist  the  Com- 
missioners of  the  Customs  (appointed  under  the  Great  Seal  of 
Great  Britain  in  pursuance  of  an  act  of  parliament)  and  their 
Officers  in  their  Persons  and  Offices.  And  whether  they  shall  or 
shall  not  relinquish  the  exercise  of  their  commission,  I  must  not 
fail  to  give  them  all  the  protection  aid  and  assistance  in  my  power 
If  in  so  doing  I  shall  give  offence,  I  shall  be  sorry  for  it,  but  I 
shall  never  regret  the  doing  my  duty. 

I  have  no  command  over  his  Majestys  Ships,  and  therefore  can- 
not issue  such  orders  as  you  desire  nor  indeed  any  order  to  the 
Commander  of  his  Majestys  Ship  the  Romney.  And  it  would  be 


Boston   Town  Records,  1768.  257 

highly  improper  for  me  to  make  a  requisition  to  him  to  remove 
from  this  Harbour,  when  I  know  he  is  stationed  here  by  a  superior 
Officer,  and  cannot  remove  from  hence  but  by  his  Orders 


Fka  Bernard 


The  Committee  at  the  same  time  reported  the  Draft  of  a  Letter 
to  Mr.  Agent  De  Berdt,  which  was  read  and  unanimously  accepted, 
and  the  Committee  were  directed  to  make  any  alterations  or 
additions  the}'  might  think  necessary,  and  to  forward  the  same 
together  with  such  Affidavits  as  they  should  obtain,  by  the  first 

Vessel 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  the  form  of  a  Vote,  relative 
to  the  carrying  of  a  Vessel  of  John  Hancock  Esq.  and  an  intro- 
duction of  an  armed  force  into  this  Town  —  Reported  in  the  form 
of  Resolves  and  after  considerable  debate  thereon  &  the  propriety 
of  a  Towns  passing  Resolves,  Voted,  that 

Dr.  Joseph  Warren 

Richard  Dana  Esq. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Church 
[102.]  John  Adams  Esq. 

John  Rowe  Esq. 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches 

Mr.  Edward  Payne 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  prepare  Instructions 
for  our  Representatives  relative  to  those  and  other  Matters,  and 
that  said  form  of  Resolves  be  handed  into  them,  for  such  use  to 

be  made  of  them  as  they  may  Judge  proper 

Adjourned  to  Fryday  next,  4.  O'Clock  :  P :  M  :  then  to  Meet  at 
Faneuil  Hall 

Fryday  June  17.  4  O'Clock  P:  M:  Town  met  according  to 
Adjournment 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Draft  of  Instructions  to 
the  Representatives  of  this  Town  in  the  General  Assembly  — 
Reported  as  follows 

To  the  Honble.  James  Otis  &  Thomas  Cushing  Esq".  Mr.  Samuel 
Adams,  and  John  Hancock  Esq. 

After  the  Repeal  of  the  late  American  Stamp  Act,  we  were 
happy  in  the  pleasing  prospect  of  a  restoration  of  that  tranquility 
and  unanimity  among  ourselves,  and  that  harmony  &  affection  be- 
tween our  Parent  Country  and  us,  which  had  generally  subsisted 
before  that  detestable  Act.  But  with  the  utmost  grief  and  concern 
we  find  that  we  flatter'd  ourselves  too  soon,  and  that  the  root  of  bit- 
terness is  yet  alive  The  principle  on  which  that  Act  was  founded 
continues  in  full  force,  &  a  Revenue  is  still  demanded  from 
America.  

We  have  the  mortification  to  observe  one  Act  of  Parliament 
after  another,  passed  for  the  express  purpose  of  raising  a  Revenue 
from  us  ;  to  see  our  money  continually  collecting  from' us,  without 
our  consent,  by  an  authority  in  the  constitution  of  which  we  have 
no  share,  and  over  [103.]  Which  we  have  no  kind  of  influence  or 
conlroul ;  to  see  the  little  circulating  Cash  that  remained  among 
us  for  the  support  of  our  trade,  from  time  to  time  transmitted  to -a 
distant  Country,   never  to  return,  or  what  iu  our  estimation    is 


25*  City  Document  No.  88. 

worse  if  possible,  appropriated  to  the  maintainance  of  swarms  of 
Officers  and  Pensioners  in  idleness  and  luxury,  whose  example  has 
a  tendency  to  corrupt  our  morals,  and  whose  arbitrary  disposi- 
tions will  trample  upon  our  rights 

Under  all  these  misfortunes  and  afflictions,  however,  it  is  our 
fixed  resolution  to  maintain  our  103-alty  and  duty  to  our  most 
gracious  Sovereign,  a  reverence  and  due  subordination  to  the 
British  Parliament  as  the  supreme  Legislative  in  all  cases  of  ne- 
cessity, for  the  preservation  of  the  whole  Empire,  and  our  cordial 
and  sincere  affection  for  our  Parent  Country,  and  to  use  our 
utmost  endeavors  for  the  preservation  of  peace  &  order  among 
ourselves :  Waiting  with  anxious  expectation  for  a  favourable 
answer  to  the  Petitions  and  sollicitations  of  this  Continent  for 
Relief — at  the  same  Time  it  is  our  unalterable  resolution,  at  all 
times  to  assert  and  vindicate  our  dear  and  invaluable  Rights  and 
Libertys,  at  the  utmost  hazard  of  our  lives  and  fortunes ;  and  we 
have  a  full  and  rational  confidence,  that  no  design  formed  against 
them  will  ever  prosper. 

That  such  designs  have  been  formed  and  are  still  in  being  we 
have  reason  to  apprehend.  A  multitude  of  Placemen  and  Pen- 
sioners, and  an  enormous  train  of  Underlings  and  Dependants, 
all  novel  in  this  Country  we  have  seen  already :  Their  inju- 
rious temper,  their  rash  inconsiderate  &  weak  behavior,  are  well 
known 

In  this  situation  of  affairs  several  armed  Vessels  and  among 
the  rest  his  Majesty's  Ship  of  War  the  Romney,  have  appeared  in 
our  Harbor ;  and  the  last  as  we  believe  by  the  express  application 
of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  with  design  to  over  awe  and  terrify 
the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  into  base  compliances,  and  unlim- 
itted  submission,  has  been  anchored  within  a  Cables  length  of  the 
Wharves. 

But  passing  over  other  irregularities,  we  are  assured,  that  the 
last  alarming  act  of  that  Ship  —  Viz*.  —  the  violent  and  in  our 
opinion  illegal  seizure  of  a  Vessel  lying  at  a  Wharff,  the  cutting 
of  her  forts,  &  removing  [104.]  Her  with  an  armed  force  in 
hostile  manner,  under  the  protection  of  the  Kings  Ships,  without 
any  probable  cause  of  seizure  that  we  know  of,  or  indeed  any 
cause  that  has  as  yet  been  made  known  ;  no  Lible  or  prosecution 
whatever  having  yet  been  instituted  against  her,  was  by  the 
express  Order  or  request  in  writing  of  the  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners to  the  Commander  of  that  Ship 

In  addition  to  all  we  are  continually  allarmed,  with  rumors  & 
reports  of  new  revinue  Acts  to  be  passed,  new  importations  of 
Officers  and  Pensioners  to  suck  the  life  blood  of  the  body  politick, 
while  it  is  streaming  from  the  Veins ;  fresh  arrivals  of  ships  of 
war  to  be  a  still  severer  restraint  upon  our  trade  ;  and  the  arrival 
of  a  military  force  to  dragoon  us  into  passive  obedience  ;  orders 
and  requisitions  transmitted  to  New  York,  Hall-ifax  and  to  Eng- 
land, for  Regiments  and  Troops  to  preserve  the  public  peace. 

Under  the  distresses  arising  from  this  state  of  things,  with  the 
highest  confidence  in  your  integrity  abilities  &  fortitude,  you  will 
exert  yourselves  Gentlemen  on  this  occasion,  that  nothing  may  be 


Boston  Town  Records,  1768.  259 

left  undone  that  may  conduce  to  our  relief ;  and  in  particular  we 
recommend  it  to  jour  consideration  and  discretion  in  the  first 
place  to  endeavor  that  Impresses  of  all  kinds  may  if  possible  be 
prevented.  There  is  an  Act  of  Parliament  being  which  has  never 
been  repealed,  for  the  encouragement  of  the  trade  to  America. 
We  mean  the  6  :  of  Anne  Chap.  37.  Sect.  9.  it  is  enacted.  "That  no 
"  Marriner  or  other  Person  who  shall  serve  on  board  or  be  retained 
"  to  serve  on  board,  any  Privateer  or  trading  Ship  or  Vessel  that 
"  shall  be  imployed  in  any  part  of  America,  nor  any  Mariner  or 
"  other  Person  being  on  shore  in  any  part  thereof  ,  shall  be  liable  to 
"be  impressed  or  taken  away  by  any  Officer  or  Officers  of  or  be- 
"  longing  to  any  of  her  Majesty's  Ships  of  War,  irnpowered  by  the 
"  Lord  High  Admiral,  or  any  other  Person  what  soever,  unless  such 
"  Mariner  shall  have  before  disserted  from  such  Ship  of  War  be- 
longing to  her  Majesty,  at  any  time  after  the  14.  of  February 
"  1757  upon  pain  that  any  Officer  or  Officers  so  impressing  or 
"  causing  to  be  impressed  or  taken  away  any  Mariner  or  other 
"  Person  contrary  to  the  tenor  &  true  meaning  of  [105.]  This 
"Act,  shall  forfeit  to  the  Master  or  Owner  or  Owners  of  any 
"  such  Ship  or  Vessel  twenty  pounds  for  every  Man  he  or  they 
"  shall  so  impress  or  take  to  be  recovered  with  full  costs  of  Suit 
"  in  any  Court  within  any  part"  of  her  Majesty's  Dominions"  so 
that  any  Impresses  of  any  mariner,  from  any  Vessel  whatsoever, 
appears  to  be  in  direct  violation  of  an  Act  of  Parliament 

In  the  next  place  its  our  desire  that  you  enquire  and  use  your 
endeavors  to  promote  a  Parliamentary  enquiry  for  the  Au- 
thors and  propagators  of  such  alarming  rumors  and  reports  as 
we  have  mentioned  before ;  &  whether  the  Commissioners  or  any 
other  Person  whatever  have  really  wrote  or  solicited  for  Troops 
to  be  sent  here  from  N  York  Hallifax  England  or  elsewhere,  and 
for  what  end  ;  and  that  you  forward  if  you  think  it  expedient,  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  resolutions  that  every  such  Person, 
who  shall  solicite  or  promote  the  importation  of  Troops  at  this 
time,  is  an  Enemy  to  this  Town  and  Province,  and  a  disturber  of 
the  peace  and  good  order  of  both. 

The  above  Report  having  been  read  and  considered,  the  Ques- 
tion was  put —  "  Whether  the  same  shall  be  accepted"  —  Passed  in 
the  Affermative  unanimously 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  &  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for 
despatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dessolved. 


[106.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  &  warned  in  publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  12th.  Day  ot 

September  A  :  D  :  17G8 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Dr.  Cooper 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting read 

The  Honble.   James  Otis  Esq.   was  chosen   Moderator  of   this 


260  City  Document  No.  88. 

Meeting,  and  took  the  Oaths  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Connecticut,  New  Hampshire,  and  Rhode 
Island  Governments. 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  to  the  Selectmen  for 

calling  this  Meeting --     rend. 

Whereas  it  hath  been  Reported  in  this  Town  Meeting  that  his 
Excellency  the  Governor  has  intimated  his  apprehensions,  that 
One  or  more  Regiments  of  his  Majestys  Troops  are  dayly  to  be 
expected  here. 

Voted,  That  the  Honble.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 

Richard  Dana  Esq. 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 

Dr.  Joseph  Warren 

John  Rowe  Esq. 

John  Hancock  Esq. 

Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  wait  upon  his  Excellency  if  in  Town,  humbly 
requesting  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  communicate  to  the  Town 

the  grounds  and  Assurances  he  may  have  thereof 

A  Vote  of  the  Honble.  Board  respecting  a  Tar  Barrel,  which  was 
the  other  Night  placed  in  the  Skillet  on  Beacon  Hill,  by  Persons 
unknown  [107.]  Was  communicated  to  the  Town  but  not  acted 

upon 

Voted,  that  the  following  Petition  be  presented  his  Excellency 
the  Governor 

To  His  Excellency  Francis  Bernard  Esq.  Governor  and  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  His  Majestys  Province  of  the  Massachusetts 

Bay  in  New  England 

May  it  please  your  Excellency 

The  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  Assembled 
taking  into  Consideration  the  critical  state  of  the  publick  Affairs, 
more  especially  the  present  precarious  situation  of  our  invaluable 
Rights  &  Privileges  Civil  and  Religeous,  most  humbly  request  that 
3'our  Excellency  would  be  pleased  forthwith  to  issue  Precepts  for 
a  General  Assembly  to  be  Convened  with  the  utmost  speed,  in 
order  that  such  measures  may  be  taken  as  in  their  wisdom  they 
may  think  proper  for  the  preservation  of  our  said  Rights  and 

Privileges 

And  your  Petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  &c. 
Voted,  that  the  Honble.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 
Richard  Dana  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
Dr.  Joseph  Warren 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  present  the  within  Petition  and  to  request  of  his 
Excellency,  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  favor  the  Town  with  an 

immediate  answer. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that 

The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams 


Boston  Town  Records,  1768.  261 

[108.]  John  Ruddock  Esq. 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 

John  Hancock  Esq. 

Richard  Dana  Esq. 

John  Rowe  Esq. 

Samuel  Quincy  Esq. 

Dr.  Joseph  Warren 

Mr.  William  Mullineux 

Mr.  John  Bradford 

Cap'.  Daniel  Malcomb 

Mr.  William  Greauleaff 

Cap4.  Adino  Paddock 

Mr.  Thomas  Boylston 

Arnold  Wells  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  take  the  state  of  our  publick  Affairs  into  Con- 
sideration, and  Report  at  the  Adjournment  the  Measures  they 

apprehend  most  salutary  to  be  taken  in  the  present  emergency 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  unto  the  next  Day.  10. 
O'Clock.  A :  M : 

Tuesday  the  13  of  September  10.  O'Clock.  A:M:  Town  Met 
according  to  Adjournment 

The  Committee  appointed  Yesterday  to  wait  upon  his  Excel- 
lency with  the  Petition  by  request  of  the  Town  Reported  from  his 
Excellency  the  following  answer  in  writing 

Gentlemen 

My  apprehensions  that  some  of  his  Majestys  Troops  are  to 
be  expected  in  Boston,  arise  from  information  of  a  private 
nature ;  I  have  received  no  publick  Letters  notifying  to  me  the 
coming  of  such  Troops,  and  requiring  Quarters  for  them ;  when- 
ever I  do  [109.]  I  shall  communicate  them  to  his  Majestys 
Council.  The  Business  of  calling  another  Assembly  for  this  Year 
is  now  before  the  King ;  and  I  can  do  nothing  in  it,  untill  I  receive 

his  Majestys  Commands. 

Francis  Bernard. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  the  state  of  our  public  Affairs 
into  Consideration,  Reported  the  following  Declaration  and  Re- 
solves   

Whereas  it  is  the  first  Principle  in  Civil  Society,  founded  in 
Nature  and  Reason,  that  no  Law  of  the  Society  can  be  binding  on 
any  Individuals,  without  his  Consent,  given  by  himself  in  Person, 
or  by  his  Representative  of  his  own  free  Election :  And  whereas 
in  and  by  an  Act  of  the  British  Parliament  passed  in  the  First  Year 
of  the  Reign  of  King  William  and  Queen  Mary,  of  glorious  and 
blessed  Memory,  entitled  an  Act  declaring  the  Rights  and  Liberties 
of  the  Subject,  and  Settling  the  Succession  of  the  Crown  ;  the  Pre- 
amble of  which  Act  is  in  these  words  —  viz'.  "  Whereas  the  late 
King  James  the  Second,  bj-  the  assistance  of  diverse  evil  Council- 
lors, Judges  and  Ministers  employed  by  him,  did  endeavor  to  sub- 
vert &  exterpate  the  Protestant  Religeon,  and  the  Laws  and  Liber- 
ties of  this  Kingdom  "  It  is  expressly  among  other  Things  declared, 
That  the  levying  Money  for  the  use  of  the  Crown,  by  Pretence  of 
Prerogative,  without  Grant  of  Parliament  for  a  longer  Time  or  in 


2  6*2  City  Document  No.  88. 

other  manner  than  the  same  is  granted,  is  illegal.  And  ickereas 
in  the  Third  Year  of  the  Reign  of  the  same  King  William  &  Queen 
Mary,  their  Majestys  were  graciously  pleased,  by  their  Royal 
Charter  to  give  and  grant  to  the  Inhabitants  .of  His  Majestys 
Province,  all  the  Territory  therein  discribed,  to  be  holden  in  free 
and  common  Soccage :  And  also  to  Ordain  &  Grant  to  the  said 
Inhabitants  certain  Rights,  Liberties  and  Privileges  therein  ex- 
pressly mentioned  ;  among  which  it  is  Granted  established  and 
Ordained,  that  all  and  every  the  Subjects  of  them  their  Heirs  & 
Successors,  which  shall  go  to  Inhabit  within  said  Province  and 
Territory,  and  every  of  their  Children  which  shall  happen  to  be 
born  there,  or  on  the  Seas  in  going  thither,  or  returning  from 
thence,  shall  have  &  enjoy  all  Libertes  and  Immunities  of  free  and 
natural  Subjects,  within  any  of  the  Dominions  of  them,  their  Heirs 
and  Successors,  to  all  intents  [110.]  Purposes  and  Constructions 
whatever,  as  if  they  and  every  of  them,  were  born  within  the 
Realm  of  England : 

And  whereas  by  the  aforesaid  Act  of  Parliament  made  in  the 
first  Year  of  the  said  King  William  and  Queen  Mary,  all  and  sin- 
gular the  Premisses  contained  therein,  are  claimed  demanded  &  In- 
sisted on  as  the  undoubted  Rights  &  Liberties  of  the  Subjects 
born  within  the  Realm  : 

And  whereas  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  this  Town 
the  Metropolis  of  the  Province  in  said  Charter  mentioned,  do  hold 
all  the  Rights  &  Liberties  therein  contained  to  be  sacred  &  invio- 
lable At  the  same  Time  publickly  and  solemnly  acknowledging 
their  firm  and  unshaken  Allegiance  to  their  alone  and  rightful 
Sovereign  King  George  the  Third,  the  lawful  Successor  of  the 
said  King  William  and  Queen  Mary  to  the  British  Throne 

Resolved  That  the  said  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  will  at  the  utmost  peril  of  their  Lives  &  Fortunes 
take  all  legal  and  constitutional  measures  to  defend  and  maintain 
the  Person  Family,  Crown  and  Dignity  of  our  said  Sovereign  Lord 
George  the  Third  ;  and  all  and  singular  the  Rights,  Liberties,  Privi- 
leges &  Immunities  granted  in  the  said  Royal  Charter,  as  well  as 
those  which  are  declared  to  be  belonging  to  us  as  British  Subjects 
by  Birth  right,  as  all  others  therein  specially  mentioned. 

And  whereas  by  the  said  Royal  Charter  it  is  specially  granted  to 
the  Great  &  General  Court  or  Assembly  therein  constituted,  to 
impose  and  levy  proportionable  and  reasonable  Assessments,  Rates 
&  Taxes  upon  the  Estates  and  Persons  of  all  and  every  the  Pro- 
prietors &  Inhabitants  of  said  Province  or  Territory,  for  the 
Service  of  the  King  in  the  necessary  defence  and  support  of  his 
Government  of  this  Province,  &  the  protection  and  preservation  of 
his  Subjects  therein,  therefore 

Voted,  as  the  Opinion  of  this  Town  ;  that  the  levying  Money 
within  this  Province  for  the  use  and  service  of  the  Crown,  in  other 
manner  than  the  same  is  granted  by  the  Great  &  General  Court  or 
Assembly  of  this  Province  is  in  violation  of  the  said  Royal 
Charter;  and  the  same  is  also  in  violation  [111.]  Of  the  un- 
doubted natural  Rights  of  Subjects,  declared  in  the  aforesaid  Act 
of  Parliament,  freely  to  give  and  grant  their  own  Mone}'  for  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1768. 

service  of  the  Crown,  with  their  own  consent,  in  Perso.i,  or  by 
Representatives  of  their  own  free  Election 

And  whereas  in  the  aforesaid  Act  of  Parliament  it  is  declared 
That  the  raising  or  keeping  a  standing  Army,  within  the  Kingdom 
in  time  of  peace,  unless  it  be  with  the  consent  of  Parliament,  is 
against  Law  ;  It  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Town  ;  that  the  said  Dec- 
laration is  founded  in  the  indefeaseble  Right  of  the  Subjects  to  be 
consulted;  and  to  give  their  free  Consent  in  Person,  or  by  Repre- 
sentatives of  their  own  free  Election  to  the  raising  &  keeping  a 
standing  Army  among  them ;  and  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town 
being  free  Subjects,  have  the  same  Right  derived  from  Nature  & 
confermed  by  the  British  Constitution,  as  well  as  the  said  Royal 
Charter ;  and  therefore  the  raising  or  keeping  a  standing  Army, 
without  their  consent  in  Person  or  by  Representatives  of  their  own 
free  Election,  would  be  an  infringement  of  their  natural,  constitu- 
tional and  Charter  Rights  ;  and  the  employing  such  Army  for  the 
enforcing  of  Laws  made  without  the  consent  of  the  People,  in 
Person,  or  by  their  Representatives  would  be  a  Grievance. 

The  aforegoing  Report  being  diverse  Times  distinctly  Read,  & 
considered  by  the  Town  —  The  Question  was  put  —  Whether  the 
same  shall  be  accepted  &  recorded ;  —  and  passed  unanimously 
in  the  Affermative 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  the  following  Votes  was 
unanimously  passed  —  Viz1.  

Whereas  by  an  Act  of  Parliament  of  the  First  of  King  William 
and  Queen  Mary,  it  is  declared ;  that  for  the  Redress  of  all 
Grieveances,  and  for  Amending  Strengthning,  and  preserving  the 
Laws,  Parliaments  ought  to  be  held  frequently,  and  in  as  much 
as  it  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Town,  that  the  People  labour  under 
many  intollerable  Grievances,  which  unless  speedily  Redressed ; 
threaten  the  total  distraction  of  our  invaluable  natural,  constitu- 
tional and  Charter  Rights. 

And  furthermore  As  his  Excellency  the  Governor  has  declared 
[11^.]  Himself  unable  at  the  Request  of  this  Town  to  call  a 
General  Court,  which  is  the  Assembly  of  the  States  of  this  Prov- 
ince, for  the  Redress  of  such  Grieveances ; 

Voted,   that  this   Town   will   now   make  choice  of   a  suitable 
number  of  Persons  to  Act  for  them  as  a  Committee  in  Convention, 
with  such  as  may  be  sent  to  Join  them  from  the  several  Towns 
in  this  Province,  in  order  that  such  Measures  may  be  consulted 
and  Advised  as  his  Majestys  service,  and  the.  peace  and  safety  of 
his  Subjects  in  this  Province  may  require  —  whereupon 
The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq. 
The  Honble.  Thomas  dishing  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams  —  & 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
were  appointed  a  Committee  for  the  said   purpose  —  The  Town 
hereafter  to  take    into  Consideration   what  reconipeuce   shall   be 
made  them  for  the  service  they  may  perform 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  write  to  the  Selectmen 
of  the  several  Towns  within  this  Province  informing  them  of  the 
aforegoing   Vote,  and  to   propose  that  a  Convention  be  held,  if 


264  City  Document  No.  88. 

they  shall  think  proper  at  Faneuil  Hall,  in  this  Town,  on  Tuesday 
the  22d.  Day  of  September  Instant,  at  10.  O'Clock  Before  Noon. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  the  following  Vote  was 
passed  by  a  very  great  Majority  —  Viz'. 

Whereas,  by  an  Act  of  Parliament  of  the  First  of  King  William 
and  Queen  Mary  it  is  declared  that  the  Subjects  being  Protestants, 
may  have  Arms  for  their  Defence  ;  It  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Town, 
that  the  said  Declaration  is  founded  in  Nature  Reason  and  sound 
Policy,  and  is  well  adapted  for  the  necessary  defence  of  the  Com- 
munity   

And  for  as  mucJi  as  by  a  good  and  wholesome  Law  of  this 
Province,  every  listed  Soldier,  and  other  Householder  (except 
[113.]  Troopers  who  by  Law  are  to  be  otherwise  provided)  shall 
be  always  provided  with  a  well  fixed  Fire  Lock  Musket  Accoutre- 
ment and  Ammunition  as  in  said  Law  particularly  mentioned,  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  Commission  Officers  of  the  Company ;  and 
as  there  is  at  this  Time  a  prevailing  apprehension,  in  the  Minds  of 
many,  of  an  approaching  War  with  France :  In  order  that  the 
Inhabitants  of  this  Town  may  be  prepared  in  case  of  sudden 
danger ;  Voted,  that  those  of  the  said  Inhabitants  who  may  at 
present  be  unprovided,  be  and  hereby  are  requested  duly  to 
observe  the  said  Law  at  this  Time 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  communicated  to  the  Town 
a  Letter  lately  received  from  a  Committee  of  Merchants  in  the  City 
of  New  York,  acquainting  him  with  their  Agreement  relative  to  a 
Non  Importation  of  British  Goods  —  Whereupon  the  Town  by  a 
Vote  expressed  their  high  satisfaction  therein ■ 

The  Town  taking  into  serious  consideration  the  present  Aspect 
of  their  publick  Affairs,  and  being  of  Opinion  that  it  greatly  be- 
hooves a  People  professing  godliness  to  Address  the  Supreme 
Ruler  of  the  World,  on  all  important  Occasions,  for  that  Wisdom 
which  is  profitable  to  direct 

Voted,  unanimously,  That  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to 
wait  upon  the  several  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  within  this  Town, 
desiring  that  the  next  Tuesday  may  be  set  apart  as  a  Day  of 
Fasting  and  Prayer 

Ordered,  that  the  Votes  &  proceedings  of  the  Town  in  their 
present  Meeting,  be  published  in  the  several  News  Papers ;  and 
also  that  a  Number  of  Copys  be  struck  off  &  sent  to  the  several 
Towns  in  this  Province  p  Expresses 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Honble. 
James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator. 

Then  the  Meeting:  was  dessolved. 


[114.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  &  warned  in  publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Fryday  the  27  Day  of 
January  1769 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting read. 

The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting,  and  took  the  Oaths  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  265 

Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Connecticut,  New  Hampshire  &  Rhode 
Island  Governments. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz*.  —  "To  make  choice  of  a 
Collector  of  Taxes  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Edward  Hollyday,  he  not 
having  given  Bond  with  sufficient  Sureties,  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  Selectmen  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  Duty  in  said  Trust 
agreable  to  the  Vote  of  the  Town  "  —  was  read  and  after  much 
debate,  it  appeared  that  a  new  Collector,  could  not  then  be  prop- 
erly chose  ;  Mr.  Hollyday  having  accepted,  and  been  sworn  to  the 
faithful  discharge  of  his  trust  as  a  Collector  of  Taxes,  and  at  this 
Meeting  offering  sufficient  Sureties  which  he  was  not  able  to  do 
before  —  whereupon 

Voted,  unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and 
hereby  are  given  to  the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen  for  their  faith- 
fulness and  attention  to  the  Interest  of  the  Town  in  requiring 
sufficient  Sureties  from  Mr.  Hollyday  for  the  faithful  discharge  of 
the  Duty  of  a  Collector  as  enjoin'd  upon  them  in  the  Vote  of  the 
Town  the  fourteenth  of  March  last 

Whereas,  Mr.  Edward  Hollyday  has  informed  the  [115.]  Town, 
that  since  the  calling  of  the  Meeting,  he  has  been  able  to  procure 
Sureties  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  Duty  of  a  Collector  of 
Taxes,  which  he  believes  will  be  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Select- 
men therefore  

Voted,  that  this  Matter  be  referred  to  the  Selectmen  to  act 
thereon  as  they  shall  Judge  agreable  to  the  Vote  of  the  Town 
respecting  Collectors 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given 
to  the  Honourable  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting, 
for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  13th.  Day  of 
March  Anno  Domini  1769 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting -     read. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Mr.  Bowen 

Sundry  Laws  enjoin'd  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting  were  accord- 
ingly read 

[116.]  The  HonbIe.  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator 
of  this  Meeting,  and  took  the  Oaths  respecting  his  paying  and  re- 
ceiving Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Governments  of  Connecticut  New 
Hampshire  and  Rhode  Island  as  required  by  an  Act  of  this  Prov- 
ince. 

William  Cooper  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  Year  ensuing 
and  having  taken  the  Oaths  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Connecticut  and  other  Governments,  took 
the  Oath  of  Office  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  Duty,  which 
Oaths  were  admiuistred  to  him  by  Mr.  Justice  Dana. 


266  City  Document  No.  88. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  Seven  Selectmen,  and  the 
Votes  being  brought  in  and  sorted  it  appeared  that 
Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 
Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 
John  Ruddock  Esq. 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
Samuel  Pemberton  Esq. 
Mr.  Henderson  Inches 
Mr.  Jonathan  Mason 

were  chose  Selectmen  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Twelve  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 
John  Barrett  Esq. 
The  Honble.  Royal  Tyler  Esq. 
Mr.  Benjamin  Dolbear 
Mr.  William  Whitwell 
Mr.  William  Greanleaff 
William  White  Esq. 
Mr.  Joseph  Waldo 
John  Leaveret  Esq. 
John  Gore  Esq. 
[117.]  Cap*.  Samuel  Partridge 
Thomas  Tyler  Esq. 

Cap4.  Thomas  Bradford       -     -     excused,  see 
were  chose  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Twelve  Wardens  and  upon 

sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Mess".  Daniel  Marsh         -----   excused 
Joseph  Belknap    -----         d°. 
Thomas  Hand :  Peck    -         -         -         -         d°. 

John  Ballard d°. 

William  Mackay  -----      Sworn 

Samuel  May d°. 

William  Powell d°. 

Joseph  Turell        -----         d°. 

Thomas  Walley d°. 

Jonathan  Snelling  -         -         -         -   excused 

Benjamin  Gooding        -  Sworn 

Henry  Hill   -         -         -         -         -         -         d°. 

were  chose  Wardens  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Sixteen  Fire-Wards  and 

upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

John  Scollay  Esq. 
Newman  Gi'enough  Esq. 
John  Rowe  Esq. 
Mr.  William  Cooper 
Mr.  John  Mico  Wendell 
Thomas  Marshall  Esq. 
William  Homes  Esq. 
Mr.  Joseph  Tyler  . 
Cap4.  Adino  Paddock 
Mr.  James  Richardson 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  267 

[118.]  Cap'.  Benjamin  "Waldo 
John  Hancock  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
Thomas  Daws  Esq. 
Mr.  Alexander  Hill 
were  chose  Fire- Wards  for  the  Year  ensuing  — — 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Town  Treasurer  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that  Mr.  David  Jeffries  was  chosen 
&  having  taken  the  Oath  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving 
Rills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments  took  the  Oath  of  Office 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  Duty,  which  Oaths  were  Admin- 

istred  to  him  by  Mr.  Justice 

Votes  for  a  County  Treasurer  brought  in  and  sealed  up  in  Town 
Meeting,  and  delivered  to  the  care  of  Constable  Linclsey  George 

Wallace  to  be  returned  to  the  Court  of  Session 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  —  the  Question  was  put  — 
"Whether  Constables  and  Collectors  of  Taxes  shall  be  chose  sep- 

perate  —  Passed  in  the  Affermative 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Five  Pounds  be  Remitted  out  of  the 
Ten  Pound  Fine  to  such  Persons  as  shall  be  chose  into  the  Office 
of  Constable  for  the  Year  ensuing,  and  shall  decline  serving. 

The  Town  brought   in  their  Votes  for  Twelve  Constables  the 
Persons  chose  into  that  Office  and  sworn  are 
Mess".  Augustus  Hail 
Francis  Salmon 
John  Wells 
Peter  Barbour 
Lyd :  George  Wallace 
Josiah  Fessenden 
[119.]         Stephen  Symms 
Hezekiah  Usher 
Benjamin  Adams 
John  Arnold 
George  Thomas 
John  Peirce 
The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Twelve  Clerks  of   the 
Market  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 
Mess".  Fitch  Pool 

Samuel  Barrett  excused 

John  Singleton  Copley 

Francis  Green 

George  Spooner 

Benjamin  Andrews 

Elisha  Hutchinson  d°. 

John  Bernard 

Joseph  Barrell 

Samuel  Allen  Otis 

Jonathan  Clark  d°. 

Bossinger  Foster 

were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing see 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Twelve  Pence  on  the  Pound  be  and 
hereby  is  allowed  to  such  Persons,  as  shall  be  chose  Collectox's  of 


2G8  City  Document  No.  88. 

Taxes  for  the  Year  ensuing  for  all  such  Sums  as  they  shall 
Collect ;  provided  they  pay  into  the  several  Treasuries  the  whole 
Sum  committed  to  them  to  Collect  on  or  before  the  10th.  Day  of 
August  1770.  Eight  Pence  on  the  Pound  on  all  such  other  Sums, 
as  they  shall  have  so  paid  into  said  Treasurers  on  or  before  the 
20th.  lhiy  of  December  1770  and  Four  Pence  on  the  Pound  upon 
the  remainder  of  the  Sums  they  shall  be  obliged  to  Collect  pro- 
vided such  remainder  of  the  Sums  they  shall  be  obliged  to  Collect 
provided  such  remainder  shall  be  fully  paid  in  on  or  before  the 
Second  Monday  in  March  1771.  This  Premium  as  above  [120.] 
Expressed  appears  to  be  Just  and  equitable,  and  an  ample  allow- 
ance to  the  Collectors  to  encourage  them  to  discharge  their  Duty 
with  diligence  and  fidelity ;  provided  also  that  each  of  said  Col- 
lectors give  Bond  with  sufficient  Sureties,  to  the  Selectmen,  as 
shall  be  satisfactory  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  Duty  in 

said  Office,  and  complying  with  this  Vote 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Four  Collectors  of 
Taxes,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared,  that 
Mess1"8.  Sampson  Salter 

Edward  Hollyday 

Samuel  Ruggles 

Abraham  Savage 
were  chose  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  ensuing  Year 


The  Town  by  a  Vote  Assigned.  4  O'Clock  P:  M :  for  the  Con- 
sideration of  Mr.  Samuel  Adams's  Petition 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Seven  Assessors, 
and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 
Mr.  William  Fairfield 
Mr.  John  Kneeland 
Mr.  Benjamin  Church 
Belcher  Noyes  Esq. 
Mr.  DanielPecker 
Mr.  Jonathan  Brown 
Moses  Deshon  Esq. 

were  chose  Assessors  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mr.  John  Gray 
was  chosen  Surveyor  of  Hemp  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that  [121.]  The 
Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to  John  Rowe  Esq. 

for  his  Services  as  a  Selectman  in  Years  past 

Messrs.  William  Nichols 
Andrew  Symms 
Clement  Collins 
Henry  Allin 
Isaac  Vergoose 
John  Grenough 
Jacob  Thayer 
Joseph  Edmunds 
John  Skillins 
John  Sergeant 
Richard  Walker 
John  Champny 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  269 

Samuel  Turner 

John  Bullfinch 

Abraham  Howard 

Joseph  Butler 
were  chose  Surveyors  of  Boards  and  Shingles  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess™.  Samuel  Dyer 

John  Dyer 

Obediah  Low 

John  Joy 

"William  Crafts 
were  chose  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess™.  Nathaniel  Gardner 

Samuel  Whitwell 
were  chose  Informers  of  Deer  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mr.  Joseph  Eyres 
was  chosen  a  Surveyor  of  Boards  for  the  Year  ensuing        - 
[122.]    Mess™.  Samuel  Bangs 

Benjamin  Cooper 

David  Loring 

Cornelius  Thayer 

Thomas  Nolan d 
were  chose  Sealers  of  Leather  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
Mess™.  Peter  Cotta 

Manesseh  Masters 

Joseph  Dyer 

John  Harskins 

David  Spear 

Jonathan  Jenkins 

Robert  Breck  Junr. 

Job  Wheelwright 

Joshua  Pico 

Benjamin  Salt 

Paul  Baxter 

John  Owen 

Thomas  Knox 

Samuel  White 

Edward  Cowell 

Edward  Potter 

Peter  Ellis 

Timothy  Pease 

Nathaniel  Waterman 

Jacob  Williams 

Samuel  Bernard 

John  Nowell 

Joseph  Phillips 

Henry  Lucas 
were  chose  Cullers  of  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 
[123.]   Mess™.  David  Simms 

Thomas  Curtis 
were  chose  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mr.  Edward  Curtis 
was  chose  Hayward  for  the  Year  ensuing    ------ 


270  City  Document  No.  88. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  it  was  Voted,   that  one 
Scavinger  be  chosen  out  of  every  Ward. 

Mess™.  Nathaniel  Barker  -         -         -         Ward  N.     1. 

After  Stoddard 2 

Benjamin  Page      -----         3 
Joseph  Hart  -         -         -         -         -         4 

Nicholas  Gray 5 

Stephen  Bruce       -         -         -         -         -         6 
Benjamin  Goldthwait  7 

Timothy  White     -----         8 

Nathaniel  Hurd 9 

Oliver  Wiswell 10 

John  Martin 11 

Thomas  Chase       -         -         -         -         -       12 

were  chose  Scavingers  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted,  that  Mr.  John  Pitts 

Nicholas  Boylston  Esq. 
Mr.  Thomas  Gray 
Isaac  Smyth  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Allin  Otis 
be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the  Ac- 
compts  of  Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries,  and  also  the  Accounts  of  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor ;  and  the  said  Committee  are  enjoined  to 
inspect  every  particular  Account  of  the  Moneys  Expended  for  the 
use  of  the  Almshouse  ;  they  are  also  impowereel  when  they  shall 
Audit  said  Accompts  to  allow  such  of  the  Overseers  [124.]  As 
shall  advance  Moneys  for  the  Relief  of  the  Poor ;  Interest  on  all 
such  Sums  from  the  Time  so  advanced,  till  they  shall  have  Audited 

said  Accompts 

The  Selectmen 

were  chose  Surveyers  of  the  High  Ways  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Coll0.  Joseph  Jackson 
Nicholas  Boylston  Esq. 
William  Homes  Esq. 
were  chose  Purchasers  of  Grain  for  the  Year  ensuing,  and  they  are 
desired  and  irapowered  to  give  all  needful  directions  to  the  Keeper 
of  the  Granary  respecting  the  Quantity  of  Grain  to  be  sold,  and 
affixing  the  price  thereof  from  Time  to  Time  as  Occasion  shall  re- 
quire   ■ 

John  Tuder  Esq. 
Mr.  John  Lucas 

were  chose  Surveyers  of  Wheat  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Cap*.  Martin  Gay 
Mr.  John  Skinner   ' 

were  chose  Assav-Masters  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Adjourned  to' 3.  O'Clock  P:M: 
3  O'Clock  P  :  M  :  Met  according  to  Adjournment  — — 
Voted,  that  the  Assessors  be  and  hereby  are  impowered  and  di- 
rected, to  set  for  Abatement  of  such  Taxes  as  they  shall  Judge 
reasonable  on  every  Thursday  till  the  Second  Thursday  in  April 
inclusive,  and  no  longer,  saving  that  they  be  allowed  to  set  the  two 
last  Weeks  in  November  [125.]  For  the  Abatements  of  the  Taxes 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  271 

of  such  Persons  as  had  not  an  Opportunity  of  applying  on  the 
above  limitted  Time,  bj'  reason  of  their  being  out  of  the  Province  ; 
tit  which  Time  they  are  also  allowed  and  impowered  to  Abate  the 
Taxes  of  such  Persons  as  may  have  died  Insolvent  between  the 
said  last  Thursday  in  April,  and  the  last  Day  of  November 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  inforce  the  Duty  of 
Scavingers,  upon  such  as  have  been  chose  ;  and  if  they  should  find 
any  defects  in  the  Laws  relating  to  those  Officers,  that  they  Re- 
port the  same  to  the  Town  that  they  may  act  thereon  as  they 
may  Judge  convenient 

The  Petition  of  Mess™.  Samuel  Holbrook  and  Joseph  Ward  and 
James  Carter  each  p'-aying  to  be  appointed  Master  of  the  South 
Writing  School  in  the  room  of  the  late  Mr.  Abiah  Holbrook 
deceased  —  were  read  —  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  choice  of  a  School  master  for  the  South  Writing 
School  be  referred  over  to  the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen,  to  act 
thereon  as  they  may  Judge  for  the  Interest  of  the  Town 

Voted,  that  the  consideration  of  School  Masters  Salarys  and 
all  other  Salarys  and  Grants  be  referred  over  to  next  May  Meet- 
ing  

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  Voted,  that  the  Town  Treas- 
urer be  and  he  hereby  is  impowered  and  directed  to  borrow  upon 
Interest  the  Sum  of  Four  hundred  Pounds,  for  the  use  of  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  to  purchase  Grain  &c.  for  the  Alms-house. 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  "  that  another  Writing 
School  House  may  be  Erected  in  some  convenient  place  at  the 
South  End  at  the  Charge  of  the.  Town,  and  a  Master  appointed 
for  the  same  " —  was  read, —  whereupon —  Voted,  that  the  Con- 
sideration be  referred  over  to  next  March  Meeting  ;  &  the  Select- 
men are  desired  to  insert  the  Prayer  thereof  in  [126.]  The  Noti- 
fication for  said  Meeting 

The  Selectmen  Reported  on  the  Accompt  of  Mr.  Benjamin 
Fenno  Keeper  of  the  Granary  for  the  Year  past  which  Accompts 
as  entred  in  his  Books  (and  on  file  in  the  Town  Clerks  Office)  was 
read  —  whereupon  it  was  Voted,  that  the  same  be  accepted  ;  and 
that  Mr.  Fenno  be  accountable  to  the  Town  for  105  Bushels  of 
Rye  &  82  Bushels  of  Indian  Corn  amounting  to  £27,,  3,,  3.  and 
also  for  the  Sum  of  £225,,  14/-J  Cash  now  in  his  hands  exclusive 
of  the  Sum  of  £32  ,,  13  ,,  4  for  his  Salary  and  attendance  as  charged 
in  his  Account  which  is  hereby  allowed  him  — — 

The  Petition  of  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  a  late  Collector  of  Taxes 
setting  forth  "  That  he  has  exhibited  a  List  of  his  outstanding 
Taxes  to  the  Selectmen  to  be  laid  before  the  Town ;  and  also  a 
state  of  his  Accompts  praying  that  upon  his  paying  the  Balance 
thereof,  the  Town  would  order  him  a  final  discharge  ;  and  at  the 
same  Meeting  made  choice  of  a  suitable  Person  to  receive  said 
List,  and  Collect  the  said  Outstanding  Taxes  or  otherwise  to  act 
upon  his  Petition  as  to  the  Town  shall  seem  meet "  was  again  read 
according  to  order,  &  after  a  full  and  long  debate  had  thereon  ;  it 
was  moved  &  the  Question  accordingly  put  —  That  a  Committee 
be  appointed  to  take  Mr.  Adams's  Petition  into  Consideration,  and 
Report  as  soon  as  may  be  ;  which  passed  in  the  Negative  —  Also 


272  City  Document  No.  88. 

moved  that  the  List  of  Outstanding  Taxes  exhibited  by  said  Mr. 
Adams  to  the  Selectmen  be  read  in  this  Meeting ;  which  Question 
being  put  —  Passed  in  the  Negative —  Then  a  Motion  was  made  and 
seconded,  that  the  Prayer  of  the  Petition  be  granted,  and  that  a 
Person  be  now  chosen  to  receive  the  said  List,  and  Collect  the 
Outstanding  Taxes,  and  the  Question  being  accordingly  put  — 
Passed  in  the  Affermative  by  a  very  great  majority  — - 

Tne  Town  then  by  a  full  Vote  made  choice  of  Mr.  Robert 
[127.]  Peir point  to  receive  the  aforesaid  List  and  Collect  the 

Outstanding  Taxes. 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  Petition  the  General  Court  at  the  next  Session  thereof 
praying  for  a  confermation  of  the  choice  now  made  of  Mr.  Eobert 
Peirpoint,  and  that  he  may  be  impowered  to  Collect  all  such  Taxes 
as  have  been  at  any  time  committed  to  the  said  Mr.  Samuel 
Adams  to  Collect  and  now  remains  Outstanding  ;  the  said  Peirpoint 
to  be  accountable  to  the  Town  for  such  Sums  as  he  shall  Collect 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  (Viz1.)  "  To  Consider  what  Meas- 
ures maybe  proper  to  betaken  for  the  preservation  of  the  Common 
and  preventing  any  Incumbrances  being  laid  thereon  "  was  read 
— .  whereupon  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  take 
this  matter  into  Consideration  ;  to  enquire  into  the  Title  of  the 
Lands,  and  make  Report  as  soon  as  may  he,  what  may  he  proper 

to  be  done  thereon 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz'. — "Whether  the  Town  will 
take  any  steps  in  addition  to  what  has  been  already  done  by  the 
Selectmen  for  vindicating  the  Character  of  the  Inhabitants,  & 
obtaining  the  knowledge  of  such  Representations  as  may  have 
been  made  to  their  prejudice "  —  was  read  —  whereupon  the 
Selectmen  being  requested  Reported  to  the  Town,  "That  besides 
the  several  Addresses  to  his  Excellency  the  Governor,  which  had 
been  published  in  all  the  News  Papers,  they  had  wrote  Letters  to 
diverse  Gentlemen  of  Character  in  London  of  the  same  import, 
praying  their  kind  interposition  in  favor  of  the  Town  as  occasion 
might  require.  It  was  then  desired  that  a  Copy  of  one  of  the 
Letters    aforesaid  be  read  to  the  Town,  and  the  Letter  sent  to 

Dennis  Deberdts  Esq.  was  read  accordingly 

A  Motion  was  then  made  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be 
given  to  the  Selectmen  for  the  care  they  have  taken  for  the 
support  and  [128.]  Vindication  of  its  Interest  and  Character, 
and  in  making  a  true  &  faithful  Representation  of  the  Conduct 
and  state  of  the  Town  to  Dennis  Dcberdt  Esq.  and  other  Gentle- 
men in  London,  and  the  Question  being  put  —  Passed  unanimously 

in  the  Affermative 

It  was  then  Voted,  that 

The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  Moderator 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 

The  Honble.  Thomas  dishing  Esq. 

Richard  Dana  Esq. 

Dr.  Joseph  Warren 

John  Adams  Esq. 

Samuel  Quincy  Esq. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  273 

be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  what  may 
be  still  necessary  to  be  done  for  vindication  of  the  Town,  in  addi- 
tion to   the  Measures   already  taken  by  the    Selectmen,    and   to 

Report  as  soon  as  may  be 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz*.  —  "To  consider  whether  the 
Town  will  come  into  any  Measures  for  supporting  Mr.  Peirpoint 
in  his  prosecuting  those  Persons  who  have  lately  trespassed  upon 
the  Lauds  which  have  been  Rented  to  him  by  the  Town  for  many 
Years  past ;  and  also  for  preventing  like  Trespasses  upon  other  of 
the  Towns  Lands,"  was  read  —  whereupon  Voted,  that — ■ 

John  Ruddock  Esq. 

John  Hancock  Esq. 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 

Samuel  Pemberton  Esq. 

Mr.  Jonathan  Mr. son 
be  a  Committee  to  take  this  matter  into  Consideration  and  Report 

at  the  Adjournment 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  VvJ. —  "To  Consider  Whether 
[129.]  A  Committee  shall  be  appointed  to  revise  the  By-Laws  of 
the  Town  "  was  read  —  whereupon  Voted,  that 

Richard  Dana  Esq. 

John  Adams  Esq. 

Josiah  Quincy  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  revise  said  Laws  and  Report  as  soon  as  may  be 
That  Article  in  the  Warrant  (Viz'.)  To  Consider  whether  the 
Town  will  Lease  the  Land  upon  which  the  Guu  House  has  been 
Erected,  for  a  certain  number  of  Years,  to  the  Officers  of  the  Train 
of  Artillery,  belonging  to  the  Regiment  of  the  Town  of  Boston  " 
was  read  —  whereupon  —  the  Question  was  put  —  Whether  the 

Town  will  Lease  the  Lands  —  Passed  in  the  Negative 

That  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz'.  —  "To  Consider  what  steps 
can  be  taken  to  give  a  check  to  the  progress  of  Vice  and  Immo- 
ralities in  this  Town,  and  to  promote  a  Reformation  of  Manners  " 
was  read  whereupon 

Voted,  that  John  Ruddock  Esq. 

Mr.  Moses  Gill 

Mr.  David  Jeffries 

William  Phillips  Esq. 

Ebenezer  Storer. 
be  a  Committee  to  take  this  Matter  into  Consideration  and  Report 

at  the  Adjournment 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz'. — "To  Consider  of  some 
Suitable  Methods  employing  the  Poor  of  the  Town,  whose  Num- 
bers and  distresses  are  dayly  increasing  by  the  loss  of  its  Trade  & 
Commerce" — was  read  —  whereupon  Voted,  that 

M*.  William  Mullineux 

Mr.  Jonathan  Mason 

John  Barrett  Esq. 
[130.]  Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Cooper 

Mr.  William  Whitwell 

Mr.  Thomas  Brattle 


274  City  Document  No.  88. 

be  a  Committee  to  take  this  M sitter  into  Consideration  and  Report 
at  the  Adjournment 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that  the  Town 
Treasurer  be  and  hereby  is  im powered  to  give  his  Negotiable 
Notes  on  Interest  to  the  Administrators  or  Executors  of  the 
deceased  School  Masters,  for  the  Balances  respectively  due  to  the 
said  deceased  Masters 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Tuesday  the  4  Day 
of  April  next,  3  O'Clock  P  :  M  : 

Tuesday  the  4  :  Day  of  April  3  O'Clock  P:  M  :  Met  according 
to  Adjournment 

The  Committee  to  Consider  what  may  be  still  necessary  to  be 
done  in  vindication  of  the  Town,  in  addition  to  the  Measures 
already  taken  by  the  Selectmen  —  Re)x>rted  the  Draft  of  a  Peti- 
tion and  Address  to  his  Majesty  —  which  being  distinctly  read  & 
duly  Considered 

Voted,  unanimously  that  the  same  be  accepted,  and  that  a  fair 
Draft  thereof  signed  by  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  be  trans- 
mitted to  the  Honble.  Isaac  Barree  Esq.  with  the  desire  of  the 
Town  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  present  the  same  as  soon  as  it 
shall  reach  his  Hands 

The  Committee  Appointed  to  Consider  the  steps  proper  to  be 
taken  to  check  the  progress  of  Vice  and  Immoralities,  and  [131.  J 
Promote  a  Reformation  of  Manners  —  Report  —  That  it  appears 
to  the  Committee  that  for  some  Time  past  Vice  and  Immoralities 
have  been  very  prevalent  in  this  Town,  and  seem  to  be  greatly  in- 
creasing more  especially  Idleness,  Drunkenness'-profane  Cursing  & 
Swearing,  Sabbath  breaking  &e.  to  the  great  Grief  of  the  more 
sober  part  of  the  Inhabitants  —  While  the  Committee  observe  with 
Concern  the  prevalence  of  these  Vices,  they  at  the  same  Time 
reflect  with  pleasure  on  the  good  and  wholesome  Laws  of  the 
Province  against  these  &  other  Immoralities. 

The  Committee  are  therefore  humbly  of  Opinion  that  in  order  to 
prevent  the  growth  of  Vice,  it  be  earnestly  recommended  to  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  Town  in  general,  to  keep  their  Children  Ser- 
vants and  young  Persons  under  their  care  under  proper  restraint ; 
and  to  the  Majestrates  and  Officers  of  the  Town  in  particular  to 
exert  their  utmost  endeavors  to  put  the  Laws  of  the  Province 
against  these  and  other  Disorders  in  execution 

The  Committee  are  further  of  Opinion  that  to  prevent  the  in- 
crease of  Idleness,  which  is  the  Parent  of  all  Vices  some  effectual! 
method  to  employ  the  many  poor  who  are  now  Objects  of  Charity, 
would  be  the  most  likely  means  to  prevent  the  further  spread  of 
Vice  and  Immorality,  and  promote  the  Reformation  of  Manners 
so  Justly  desired  — 

John  Ruddock  p  Order- 

The  above  Report  having  been  read  and  Considered  —  the 
Question  was  put  —  Whether  the  same  shall  be  accepted  —  Passed 

in  the  Affermative 

The  Committee  relative  to  the  Tresspasses  upon  the  Towns 
Land  asked  leave  to  Report  thereon  at  the  Town  Meeting  in  May 
next  which  was  accordingly  granted  them 


Boston  Town  Recoeds,  1769.  275 

The  Committee  appointed  to  Consider  of  some  suitable  Methods 
for  employing  the  Poor  of  the  Town  whose  Numbers  aud  distresses 
are  dayly  encreasing  by  the  loss  of  its  Trade  &  Commerce  Report 
—  That  they  have  conversed  with  some  of  the  Overseers  of  [13S.] 
The  Poor,  and  find  by  their  Accouuts  that  there  are  almost  230 
Persons  in  the  Almshouse,  and  about  40  in  the  Work-house  who 
are  proper  Subjects  of  the  Almshouse,  that  the  Overseers  in  the 
Year  1767.  paid  away  to  People  out  of  that  House  towards  their 
support  and  Relief  not  less  than  Six  hundred  pounds,  and  the  last 
Year  not  less  than  £G20  ,,  —  and  that  they  apprehend  from  the 
great  decay  of  Trade,  and  the  consequent  want  of  employ  that  the 
Expences  of  the  present  Year  for  the  relief  of  the  People  out  of 
the  House,  will  be  much  larger,  and  must  of  necessity  annually 
increase ;  That  the  only  way  to  lesson  this  Expence  or  prevent  its 
increase  is  to  pitch  upon  some  way  of  employing  those  who  occa- 
sion it.  Aud  your  Committee  find  that  since  the  Town  have  had 
in  contemplation  some  method  for  this  purpose  ;  that  there  above 
two  hundred  of  the  Poor  of  the  Town  who  are  now  ready,  and  are 
desirous  of  being  employed  in  Spinning  and  Carding  and  that  their 
Numbers  are  dayly  increasing. 

Your  Committee  are  therefore  of  Opinion,  that  it  would  answer 
a  very  valuable  purpose  if  a  number  of  Schools  were  set  up  at 
different  parts  of  the  Town  and  a  suitable  number  of  School 
Mistresses  were  procured  and  employed  to  learn  such  Children  to 
Spin  (free  of  Charge)  as  the  Overseers  shall  from  time  to  time 
Certifie  are  proper  Objects  of  such  Charity.  That  for  this  purpose 
a  number  of  suitable  Rooms  be  hired  and  School  Mistresses  pro- 
cured, and  a  number  of  Spinning  Wheels,  and  a  quantity  of  Wool 
purchased  for  the  immediate  employment  of  such  Children,  which 
Wool  when  once  converted  into  Yarn  might  be  readily  disposed  of 
to  several  Persons  lately  arrived  from  abroad,  and  who  have  been 
brought  up  and  are  Master  Workmen  in  the  Manufacturing  of 
Shalloons  Durants,  Camblitts  Callamancos  Duroys  and  Legathies 
aud  in  general  Mens  Summer  Ware,  and  who  we  understand  are 
determined  to  carry  on  said  Business  as  soon  as  they  can  be  fur- 
nished with  a  sufficient  number  of  Spinners  to  keep  their  Looms 
employed 

Your  Committee  are  fully  conviuced  that  the  execution  of  the 
Plan  aforementioned  would  be  of  unspeakable  Advantage  to  the 
[138.]  Town,  as  it  would  in  a  few  Years  save  a  considerable  part 
of  the  Expence  that  arises  from  the  Relief  afforded  to  People  out 
of  the  House  ;  it  would  annually  lesson  the  number  of  those  who 
are  esteemed  proper  Subjects  of  the  Almshouse ;  It  would  keep 
great  numbers  out  of  Idleness  which  as  its  the  Parent  of  Vice  so 
it  promotes  intemperance  and  all  the  Deceases  that  are  naturally 
produced  by  such  a  course  of  Life  ;  and  moreover  it  will  at  the 
same  Time  have  a  happy  tendency  to  habituate  the  People  to  In- 
dustry, &  preserve  their  Morals  who  instead  of  their  continuing  a 
burden  to  Society  will  become  some  of  its  most  useful  Members  — 
The  Committee  at  the  same  time  are  not  insensible  that  the  carrying 
it  into  execution  will  be  attended  with  a  great  Expeuce,  and  have 
been  apprehensive  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  prevail  with  any 


276  City  Document  No.  88. 

number  of  Gentlemen  to  execute  a  trust  that  would  be  attended 
with  much  trouble,  yet  they  have  reason  to  think  that  in  case  the 
Town  would  Order  and  Impower  the  Treasurer  to  borrow  &  fur- 
nish the  Overseers  with  the  small  Sum  of  Five  hundred  Poudds, 
they  to  be  impowered  to  improve  it  for  the  relief  of  the  Poor  out 
of  the  House,  by  employing  tliem  in  the  Method  aforesaid,  a  re- 
sponsible Gentleman  might  be  prevailed  upon,  the  Overseers 
granting  him  Two  hundred  Pounds  and  lending  him  the  remaining 
Three  hundred  Pounds  (for  which  he  would  give  his  Bond  pa3Tab!e 
in  two  Years)  would  on  consideration  of  said  Grant  and  Loan 
enter  into  an  Obligation  at  his  own  charge  to  hire  a  suitable  num- 
ber of  Rooms  for  Schools,  and  hire  a  number  of  School  Mistresses 
to  teach  as  many  Persons  to  spin  as  are  desirous  to  learn,  and 
would  at  his  own  cost  engage  to  furnish  them  with  spinning 
Wheels,  and  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  Wool  to  keep  them  em- 
ployed till  they  were  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  Business,  and 
would  further  engage  after  they  were  commenced  good  Spinners 
to  keep  them  employed  at  said  Business  for  the  space  of  two  Years 
provided  they  will  work  upon  reasonable  terms,  by  which  Time  it 
is  highly  probable  the  Business  will  be  so  well  established  as  to 
find  them  full  Employ  — Your  Committee  are  also  of  Opinion  that 
the  Gentlemen  we  hope  may  be  prevailed  upon  to  carry  the  impor- 
tant employment  of  the  Poor  of  the  Town  into  Execution  has  in 
view  the  public  good,  and  upon  mature  deliberation  we  apprehend 
that  there  is  not  any  probability  of  his  advantaging  [134.  J  Him- 
self thereby,  but  on  the  contrary  the  Town  will  Annually  save  a 
Sum  much  larger  than  the  Two  Hundred  Pounds,  to  be  granted 
him  for  undertaking  this  Business  —  All  which  is  humbly  sub- 
mitted 

The  above  Report  read  and  accepted,  &  Voted,  That  for  pre- 
venting the  increase  of  the  Enormous  Charge  and  Expeuce  of 
supporting  the  Poor  of  the  Town,  and  for  the  lessening  the  same 
if  possible  The  Town  Treasurer  for  the  Towu  being  be  and  he 
hereby  is  directed  and  impowered  to  borrow  in  behalf  of  the  Town 
the  Sum  of  Five  hundred  Pounds  of  lawful  Money,  and  put  it  into 
the  hands  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  who  are  hereb}*  impowered 
to  improve  it  for  the  relief  of  the  Poor  of  this  Town  in  the  follow- 
ing manner  that  is  to  say,  to  em  ply  them  in  Carding  and  Spinning 
of  Wool  according  to  the  spirit  &  intention  of  the  Report  afore- 
said, and  that  Two  hundred  Pounds  of  the  said  Five  hundred 
Pounds  be  given  to  Mr.  William  Mullineux  to  enable  him  lo 
purchase  Spinning  Wheels,  Cards,  and  to  procure  convenient  places 
and  Appartments  for  carrying  on  the  Spinning  Business,  and  a 
sufficient  number  of  Spinning  Mistresses  well  skilled  and  experi- 
enced in  the  Art  and  Mistery  of  spinning  Wool  into  good  Yarn  he 
the  said  William  Mullineux  giving  Bond  to  the  Town  for  his  find- 
ing a  sufficient  number  of  good  Spinning  Wheels  and  Cards,  and 
having  a  sufficient  number  of  Rooms  or  Appartments  for  teaching 
Learners  in  the  Business  aforesd.  and  a  sufficient  Number  of 
Persons  thoroughly  skilled  in  the  said  Business  to  teach  and  in- 
struct such  as  are  or  shall  be  desirous  to  learn  it,  &  for  supplying 
them  with  sufficient  Quantities  of  Wool  fit  for  the  purpose  afore- 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  277 

said  while  learning,  all  at  the  proper  Cost  &  Charge  of  the  said 
William  Mullineux.  And  that  the  remaining  Sum  of  Three  hundred 
Pounds  be  lent  to  him  the  said  William  Mullineux  for  the  space 
of  two  Years  to  enable  him  to  purchase  a  sufficient  Quantity  of 
Wool  to  keep  said  Spinners  constantly  emyloyed  upon  reasonable 
terms,  he  to  give  Bond  to  the  Town  that  he  will  keep  said  Spin- 
ners employed  and  pay  them  for  the  work  at  a  reasonable  rate  for 
the  term  of  two  Years,  and  at  the  expiration  of  said  term  will  pay 
the  said  [135.]  Three  hundred  Pounds  unto  the  Town  Treasurer 

for  the  Time  being  for  the  use  of  the  Town 

Mess™.  Samuel  Calf 
John  Gore 
George  Green 
were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  directed  and  im- 
powered  to  take  effectual  care  to  see  the  Common  is  inclosed,  and 
kept  Inclosed  and  also  to  bring  such  Actions  as  they  may  think 
necessary  to  prevent  or  remove  any  Incumbrances  upon  the  Towns 
Land,  and  for  obtaining  damages  for  the  same 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  One  Overseer  of  the  Poor 
in  the  room  of  Cap4.  John  Bradford  who  has  resigned  and  upon 

sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Mr.  Samuel  Whitwell 
was  chosen  an  Overseer  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of 
the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to  Cap4.  John  Bradford  for  his 
good  services  as  an  Overseer  the  Year  past ■ 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  Things  which  shall  remain  unfinished 
at  this  Meeting  be  referred  over  to  the  General  Town  Meeting  in 
May  next  to  be  then  Considered  of  and  acted  upon 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Five  Wardens,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Mess".  John  Joy 

Benjamin  Harrod 
Thomas  Hitchburne 

[136.]  James  Perkins 

Thomas  Sherburne 
were  chose  Wardens  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  &  hereby 
are  given  to  the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Fryday  the  5  Day  of  May 
Anno  Domini  1769 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Revd.  Mr.  Lothrop. 

The  Precept  &  Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  -     -     read 

Sundry  Laws read 


278  Crrr  Document  No.  88. 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  Seconded 

[137.]  Voted,  That  this  Town  before  they  proceed  upon  the 
Business  make  and  Order  to  be  Entred  upon  their  Records,  the  fol- 
low declaration  of  their  Right  to  the  freedom  of  Election  — Viz4. 

The  Selectmen  having  acquainted  the  Town  that  they  had  waited 
on  General  Mackay  Commander  of  Majestys  Forces  Quartcr'd  here 
to  inform  him  that  the  choice  of  Persons  to  Represent  the  Town 
in  the  General  Assembly  was  coming  on,  and  to  Claim  in  behalf 
of  the  Town  the  full  Right  of  British  .Subjects  &  Freeholders  upon 
so  important  an  Occasion  'founded  in  the  Principles  of  the  Consti- 
tution —  The  Selectmen  having  also  acquainted  the  Town  that  the 
General  had  declared  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  march  the  Troops 
out  of  this  Town  upon  this  Occasion,  or  any  further  to  comply 
with  their  Claim,  than  by  confining  them  to  their  Barracks  which 
he  engaged.  The  Town  tho  they  receive  this  answer  as  a  Conces- 
sion of  the  Rectitude  of  the  Claim,  yet  as  the  Measure  of  confining 
the  Troops  to  their  Barracks  and  not  removing  them  out  of  Town 
is  by  no  means  adequate  to  the  extent  of  their  Constitutional 
Right,  they  cannot  proceed  to  an  Election  without  declaring  their 
clear  and  full  sense,  that  the  Residences  of  Armed  Forces  in  the 
Town,  during  an  Election  of  so  great  Importance,  is  an  high  in- 
fringement of  their  Constitutional  Rights ;  Protesting  that  their 
proceeding  to  an  Election  under  such  a  Circumstance  is  wholly 
from  necessity  and  not  to  be  considered  as  a  Precedent  in  any 
Time  hereafter,  or  construed  as  a  voluntary  receeding  from  the 
incontestable  Rights  of  British  Subjects  and  Freeholders  on  so 
interesting  an  Occasion 

Joshua  Ilenshaw  Esq.  one  of  the  Selectmen  proposed  in  their 
Name  to  the  Inhabitants  Assembled  to  proceed  to  the  Choice  of 
one  or  more  Persons  to  Represent  them  in  the  Great  and  General 
Court  or  Assembly  to  be  held  at  Boston  upon  Wednesday  the  31 
Day  of  May  Currant,  and  in  order  thereto  to  Consider  and  Ascer- 
tain the  Number  of  Gentlemen  to  be  Elected  ;  accordingly  it  was 
Voted,  to  proceed  to  the  Choice  of  Four  Representatives,  and  then 
it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Votes  will  be  received 
but  such  as  are  folded,  and  that  they  propose  the  Poll  shall  be 
closed  at  12.  O'Clock 

[138.]  The  Votes  being  brought  in,  the  Number  of  the  same 
were  found  to  be  Five  hundred  and  eight  and  upon  sorting  them 
it  appeared  that   the   Four  following   Gentlemen  were   chose  — 

Viz4. 

The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  502 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq.        -         -         502 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 503 

John  Hancock  Esq. 505 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen,  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring 
in  their  Votes  for  a  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  in  order  that  the 
Town  may  proceed  in  transacting  the  other  Affairs  mentioned  in 
the  Warrant ;  accordingly  the  Inhabitants  withdrew,  and  brought 
in  their  Votes  &  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that  the  Honble. 
James  Otis  Esq  was  chosen. 


Bostox   Town  Records,  1769.  27D 

The  Article  in  the  "Warrant  (Viz1.)  "Whether  the  Town  will 
give  Instructions  to  the  Gentlemen  that  may  be  chosen  to  Repre- 
sent them  in  the  next  General  Assembly  "  —  was  read  —  where- 
upon 


Voted,  That  the  Town  will  give  Instructions  to  their  Repre- 
sentatives, and  that 

Richard  Dana  Esq. 

John  Adams  Esq. 

John  Ruddock  Esq. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Church 

Dr.  Joseph  Warren 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Mullineux 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  of  &  pre- 
pare proper  Instructions,  which  Committee  are  desired  to  Report 

as  soon  as  possible 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  3.  O'Clock  P :  M : 

3  O'Clock.    Met  according  to  Adjournment 

[139.]  The  Committee  Appointed  the  Fourth  Day  of  May 
last  relative  to  the  Grist  Mills  at  the  North  part  of  Boston  Report 
"  That  your  Committee  have  diligently  Searched  into  the  state  of 
the  Facts  &  Records  relative  to  the  Affair  committed  to  them,  and 
they  find  that  on  the  fifth  of  July  in  the  Year  1643.  there  was 
granted  to  one  Henry  Simons  and  others ;  all  that  Cove  on  the 
North  side  of  the  then  Cause-way  leading  towards  Charlestown 
with  all  the  Salt  Marsh  bordering  thereon  (not  before  Granted)  to 
enjoy  the  said  Cove  and  Marsh  to  them  their  Heirs  &  Assigns 
forever,  but  for  this  intent  and  on  this  Condition  Viz'.  —  That 
within  three  Years  they  should  make  and  Erect  upon  or  near  some 
part  of  the  granted  Premisses,  one  or  more  Corn  Mills  and  main- 
tain the  same  forever.  And  for  their  encouragement  Three  hun- 
dred Acres  of  Land  in  Braintree  was  given  to  the  said  Simons 
and  others,  and  if  they  should  carry  the  Mill  Stream  through  the 
Marsh  on  the  North  East  end  of  Goodman  Lows  House  they 
should  have  sixty  feet  in  breadth  throughout  the  Marsh  to  them 
and  their  Heirs  forever.  Your  Committee  also  find  that  by  the 
said  Grant  the  Town  made  their  reservation,  that  no  other  Com- 
mon Mill  should  be  Erected  without  their  Consent.  Your  Com- 
mittee further  find  that  afterwards  Viz'.  —  on  the  27,  Day  of 
November  following,  was  solemnly  Agreed  by  and  between  the 
Town  and  the  Grantees ;  that  if  the  Grantees  failed  of  perform- 
ing the  Conditions  of  their  Grant,  they  shoull  suffer  the  loss  of 
the  Cove  &  Marsh  and  all  other  the  granted  Lands  :  That  the 
Grant  aforesaid  should  be  void:  and  the  Cove  Marsh  &  Lands 
aforesaid  should  revert  to  the  Town ;  as  if  no  such  Grant  had 
ever  been  made.  Moreover  by  the  last  mentioned  Agreement, 
thirty  three  feet  of  Land  in  breadth  through  the  Marsh  was  given 
to  the  Grantees  in  addition  to  the  former  sixty  feet,  if  they  should 
set  the  Mill  or  Mills  between  John  Gallops  Point  &  Edward  Ben- 
dais  Cove.  And  that  the  Town  may  more  perfectly  see  and  under- 
stand the  matter  here  follows  an  exact  Copv  of  the  Grants  & 
Agreements  aforesaid  (Viz'.)  "  The  31Bt.  of  5th.  M°.   1G43.  at  a 


280  City  Document  No.  88. 

"Meeting  this  Day  of  John  Winthiop  Esq.  Governor,  William 
"  Tyng  Treasurer  Cap1.  Gibbins,  Valentine  Hall,  Jolm  Oliver,  There 
"is  Granted  unto  Henry  Simons,  George  Burden,  John  Button,  John 
"Hill  &  other  Partners,  all  that  [140.]  Cove  already  bounded) 
"  on  the  North  side  of  the  Causeway  leading  towards  t  harlestown, 
"  with  all  the  Salt  Marsh  bordering  thereupon  round  about,  not 
"  formerly  Granted  to  any  other,  (Reserving  liberty  from  time  to 
"  time  to  make  use  of  any  part  thereof  for  repairing  the  said  Causey) 
"  to  have  and  enjoy  the  said  Cove  and  Marsh  to  them  and  their 

"  Heirs  and  Assigns  forever 

"  Secondly  the  said  Grant  is  for  this  intent  and  upon  this  Coudi- 
"  tion,  that  the  said  Grantees  their  Heirs  and  Assigns  shall  within 
"  the  space  of  three  Years  now  next  following  Erect  &  make 
"  upon  or  near  some  part  of  the  Premisses  One  or  more  Corn 
"  Mills  &  maintain  the  same  forever 

"  Thirdly  that  the  said  Grantees  shall  make  &  maintain  for- 
"  ever,  a  Gate  of  ten  feet  in  breadth,  to  open  with  the  Flood  for 
"  passage  of  Boats  into  the  said  Cove,  at  such  Time  as  they  may 
"  arrive  at,  their  ordinary  landing  Places 

"  Fourthly,  the  Town  cloth  Grant  unto  them  their  Heirs  &  As- 
"  signs,  Three  hundred  Acres  of  Land  at  Braintree  for  the  use  and 
"  encouragement  of  the  said  Mill  or  Mills 

"  Fifthly,  that  if  they  shall  carry  their  Mill  Stream  thro*,  the 
"  Marsh  on  the  North  east  end  of  Goodman  Lows  House,  they  have 
"  sixty  feet  in  breadth  throughout  the  said  Marsh  Granted  unto 
"  them  their  Heirs  and  Assigns  forever 

"  Sixthly,  they  shall  have  liberty  to  dig  one  or  more  trenches  in 
"  the  Hio-h  Way,  or  Waste  Grounds  so  as  they  make  and  maintain 
"  sufficient  passable  &  safe  Ways  over  the  same  for  IJorse  & 
"Cart 

"  Seventhly,  the  Town  will  not  allow  any  other  Common  Mill  to 
"  be  Erected,  except  the  necessary  Occasions  of  the  Town  should 
"  require  it 

"  Eighthly,  the  said  Select  Townsmen  and  their  Successors  shall 
"  procure  what  free  help  they  can  (by  perswasion)  upon  any  press- 
"  ing  Occasion  of  use  of  many  hands  about  making  the  Banks  or 
"  Trenches  &c.  for  the  better  furtherance  of  the  work  to  be 
' '  speedily  effected 

[141.]  "  The  27th.  of  9th.  M°.  1643  —  John  Button  and  John 
"  Hill  have  now  resigned  all  Claim  of  Interest  in  the  Business  of 
"  the  Corn  Mills  Agreed  the  31st.  of  5th.  1643 

"  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Selectmen  on  the  27th.  of  9th.  M°.  1643. 
"  The  intent  of  the  Agreement  between  the  Town  and  the  Gran- 
"  tees  of  the  Cove  &c.  for  the  Miln  is  as  follows 

"1st.  That  the  Grantees  shall  not  be  bound  to  reserve  any 
"Marsh  if  they  have  occasion  to  cut  it  up,  but  in  that  case  the 
"Towns  liberty  for  repairing  the  Cause-way  shall  reach  to  such 
"  Land  as  shall  be  left,  be  it  up  or  neither  spilt, 

"  2d.  The  said  Grantes  shall  not  be  bound  either  to  the  making 
"or  maintaining,  of  any  such  Miln  or  Milns  upon  any  other  penalty 
"  than  the  loss  of  the  said  Cove  &  Marsh  &  other  Lands  Granted 
"  return  to  the  Town  agaiu,  as  if  it  had  not  been  Granted 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  281 

"  And  for  further  explanation  it  i9  now  Agreed  and  declared 
"  between  the  Town  and  the  Grantees  that  if  the  said  Grantees 
"  shall  not  go  forward,  nor  perfect  the  said  work  as  it  is  intended, 
"  or  having  perfected  the  same  in  any  measure,  shall  see  good  at 
"  any  time  to  give  over  and  not  continue  to  uphold  and  maintain  the 
"same,  it  shall  be  no  breach  of  Covenant  on  their  part  only  the 
"  Grant  to  be  void  (&  so  forth)  as  before 

"  And  whatsoever  Timber  or  other  Materials  the}'  shall  be  at 
"  Cost  to  Erect,  or  bring  upon  the  Land  Granted,  it  shall  be  law- 
"  ful  for  them  to  sell  off,  unto  any  other  Person  within  the  space 
"  of  one  Year,  after  they  shall  have  left  off  to  proceed  in  the  said 
"  work  or  to  uphold  &  maintain  the  same  being  made  and  finished, 
"  provided  that  if  the  Town  will  give  them  for  such  Timber  Work 
"  or  other  Materials  so  much  as  another,  they  shall  have  the  same, 
"  and  one  Months  time  for  refusal. 

"  Moreover  there  is  thirty-three  feet  in  breadth  added  to  the 
"  former  Grant  near  Goodman  Lows  House  and  both  upon  Condi- 
"  tion  the  Miln  or  Milns  may  be  set  between  John  Gallops  Point 
"and  Edward  Bendalls  Cove  — What  is  contained  in  this  and 
"  the  two  foregoing  Pages  are  true  Copys  as  entred  with  the 
"  Records  of  the  Town  of  Boston  [142. J  Examined  by  Joseph 
"  Prout  Town  Clerk" — The  Committee  further  find  that  the 
Grantees  soon  after  the  Grant  was  made  Erected  the  Mills  by  the 
Mill  Bridge  between  Gallops  Point  and  Bendalls  Cove,  and  main- 
tained the  same  for  many  Years  ;  whereby  they  book  to  themselves 
their  Heirs  &  Assigns  not  only  the  Cove  and  the  Marsh,  but  the 
thirty-three  and  sixty  feet,  on  each  side  the  Mill  Creek,  and  the 
three  hundred  Acres  of  Land  in  Braintree  notwithstanding  the 
Grant  was  to  be  utterly  void,  upon  their  failing  to  maintain  and 
keep  up  those  Mills,  which  they  had  Erected  as  aforesaid  and  all 
was  to  revert  to  the  Town.  Therefore  it  appears  clearly  to  the 
Committee  (in  as  much  as  those  Mills  for  many  Years  last  past 
have  been  useless  wholly  unimproved,  &  for  several  Years  past 
have  been  and  now  remain  intirely  demolished)  that  the  Grantees 
have  absolutely  forfeited  their  Estate  which  they  had  by  virtue  of 
the  Grant  aforesaid ;  and  the  same  Estate  is  reverted  to  the 
Town 

The  Committee  are  further  of  Opinion  that  it  would  not  only  be 
legal  but  Just  and  equitable  as  well  as  expedient  if  not  necessary 
for  the  Town  (so  far  at  least  as  concerns  the  place  where  the 
Mills  stood  by  the  Mill  Bridge  with  the  Mill  Creek)  to  take  the 
forfeiture  aforesaid,  and  take  immediately  the  possession  of  the 
same,  and  as  soon  as  may  be  Erect  a  Mill  or  Mills  in  or  near 
the  place  where  the  old  Mills  stood,  for  the  following  Reasons 
which  to  the  Committee  appear  important — Viz1. 

Ist.  It  is  much  better  to  be  on  the  defensive  than  on  the  offen- 
sive side  to  be  in  possession  than  out  of  it. 

2d.  Taking  the  Possession  of  a  part  only,  when  the  whole  is  for- 
feited proves  the  clemency  &  moderation  of  the  Town ;  and  may 
answer  future  jrood  purposes 

3d.  As  the  Proprietors  (so  called)  have  not  only  neglected  to 
Erect  new  Mills,  when  the  old  ones  were  rotted  down,  but  they 


282  City  Document  No.  88. 

keep  even  the  North  Mills  in  such  a  wretched  Condition  ;  that 
People  in  Town  cannot  have  their  Grain  ground,  and  it  may  be 
Nine  [143.]  Tenths  of  the  Grain  landed  in  Bostou  is  carried  to 
Chelsea  Roxbury  Dorchester  Maiden  and  Charlcslown  to  the  un- 
speakable damage  of  the  Town  of  Boston 

4th.  Were  good  Mills  Erected  at  the  Mill  bridge  and  Wheat  tnan- 
ufactored  into  Flour,  both  for  our  home  supply  &  shipping  off,  our 
Bread  aud  Flour  would  be  much  better  than  what  we  now  have  and 
consequently  it  would  be  cheaper,  for  the  portage  out  of  Town  aud 
in  again  costs  considerable  and  must  make  our  Bread  &  Flour 
dearer,  aud  then  our  own  Townsmen  would  be  imployed  in  the 
stead  of  Strangers  and  the  Inhabitants  in  general  (especially  the 
poorer  sort)  would  be  greatly  relieved  by  having  the  Grist  Mills  in 
the  middle  part  of  the  Town,  but  this  desigu  of  our  forefathers  in 
the  very  generous  Grant  they  made  to  the  original  Undertaker's  for 
many  Years  past,  has  been  intirely  defeated  by  the  present  Occu- 
piers and  will  continue  to  be  so  unless  the  Town  take  said  Mil's 
into  its  own  hands  again,  which  the  Committee  are  of  Opinion  the 

Town  have  an  undoubted  right  to  do 

5th.  The  Proprietors  (so  called)  are  a  few  of  them  poor  & 
needy,  —  and  disconcerted  amongst  themselves  and  it  seems  the 
Interest  of  some  of  them  to  carry  Wheat  out  of  Town,  so  that  it  is  in 
vain  to  expect  any  relief  from  them,  but  things  will  certainly  grow 
worse  &  worse  with  them  as  they  have  for  many  Years  past ; 
whereby  the  Town  has  already  suffered  the  loss  of  Thousands 
which  may  not  only  be  prevented  for  the  future,  but  it  will  soon  be 
an  Estate  of  considerable  early  value  and  income  to  the  Town  if 
proper  steps  are  taken  for  that  purpose 

The  above  Report  having  been  duly  considered  by  the  Town 
Voted  that  James  Otis  Esq.  Moderator 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 

John  Ruddock  Esq. 

John  Hancock  Esq. 

Samuel  Pemberton  Esq. 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches 

Mr.  Jonathan  Mason 
[144.]       Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 

Mr.  Edward  Payne 

Benjamin  Kent.  Esq. 

John  Barret  Esq 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  who  are  desired  &  im- 
powered  to  take  possession  in  behalf  of  the  Town  of  such  part  of 
the  Premisses  as  is  specified  and  recommended  to  be  done  in  said 

Report 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  Voted,  that  the  Town  Treas- 
urer be  and  he  hereby  is  directed  and  impowered  to  give  his  Negotia- 
ble Notes  upon  Interest  to  each  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  as  are  in 
advance  for  the  relief  of  the  Town,  for  such  Sums  as  appear  to  be 
due  them  respectively  upon  the  Audit  of  their  Accounts  in  March 
last 

The  Petition  of  Mr.  Samuel  Hunt  Master  of   the   North   Lattin 


Boston  Town  Kecords,  1769.  283 

School  "  that  some  addition  may  be  made  to  his  present  Salary." 
read  and  considered  whereupon  moved  that  the  Sum  of  Twenty 
Pounds  be  added  to  his  Salary  ;  and  the  Question  being  accordingly 
put  —  Passed  in  the  Negative 

Mr.  Bejamin  Dolbear  one  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  having 
acquainted  the  Town  that  the  Roof  of  the  Almshouse  was  old  :ind 
defective,  and  the  expence  of  Repairs  like  to  be  considerable  ;  it 
would  therefore  be  agreable  to  them  to  know  the  minds  of  the  Inhab- 
itants, respecting  its  being  either  shingled  or  slated,  whereupou  it 
was  Voted  that  it  be  left  to  the  Overseers  to  cover  the  Roof  as 
they  shall  Judge  proper 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  &  twenty  Pounds  be  allowed 
&  paid  unto  Mr.  John  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  South 
Grammar  School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  [145.] 
Paid  him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the 
Expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  Samuel  Hunt  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North  Gram- 
mar School  for  the  ensuing  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quar- 
terly as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of 
the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  John  Procter  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writ- 
ing in  Queen  Street  for  the  Year  ensuing  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
quarterly  as  it  shall  become  clue,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiratiou 
of  the  last  Quarter. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  untoMr.  Samuel  Holbrook  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  Writ- 
ing School  in  the  Common  for  the  ensuing  Year  the  same  to  be  paid 
him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  ex- 
piration of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  John  Tileston  for  his  Salary  as  Master  of  the  North 
Writing  School  the  ensuing  Year  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly 
as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the 
last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
Mr.  James  Lovel  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  South  Grammar 
School  for  the  Year  ensuing  the  same  to  be  paid  him  "Quarterly  as 
it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last 
Quarter 

[146.]  Voted,  that  a  further  Sum  of  Forty  Pounds  be  allowed 
and  paid  unto  Mr.  James  Lovel  as  an  encouragement  for  him  to 
remain  and  exert  himself  in  the  Service  of  the  Town  the  ensuing 
Year ;  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due, 
and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  £50  —  be  allowed  and  paid  unto  Mr.  James 
Carter  for  his  Salary  as  Usher  of  the  Writing  School  in  Queen  Street 
the  Year  ensuing,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it  shall  be- 
come due,  and  to  commence  at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  a  further  Sum  of  Twenty  five  Pounds  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Mr.  James  Carter  as  an  encouragement  to  him  for  to 


284  City  Document  No.  88. 

exert  himself  in  the  service  of   the  Town  the  Year  ensuing,  the  same 
to  be  paid   him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence 

at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sura  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  to 
such  Persons  as  the  Selectmen  shall  appoint  an  Assistant  for  the 
Master  of  the  "Writing  School  in  the  Common  the  Year  ensuing,  the 
same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  com- 
mence at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Pounds  be  allowed  and  paid 
out  of  the  Town  Treasury  unto  Mr.  David  Jeffries  for  his  Service 
as  Treasurer  of  the  Town  the  Year  past,  and  for  all  his  Expences 

in  that  Office 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Thirty  four  Pouuds  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Mr.  John  Tileston  Master  of  the  Writing  School  at  the  North 
End  for  providing  an  Assistant  the  Year  ensuing  [147.]  The  same 
to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence 

at  the  expiration  of  the  last  Quarter 

Voted,  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  and  he  hereby  is  directed  and 
impowered  to  allow  the  several  Schoolmasters  Interest  on  the  Sums 
due  to  them  from  the  elate  of  their  Warrants  to  the  Time  of  pay- 
ment   

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Monday  the  8.  Day 
of  May.  9.  O'Clock  A:M: 

May  8.  9  O'Clock  A :  M  :     Met  according  to  Adjournment 
To  the  Freeholders  and  othtjr  Inhabitants  of  Boston  in  Town 

Meeting  Assembled  May  5.  1769 

Pursuant  to  a  Vote  of  the  Town  of  Boston  at  their  Annual  Meet- 
ing the  4th.  of  May  last  desiring  the  Selectmen  to  visit  the  several 
publick  Schools  in  the  Town  and  to  invite  such  Gentlemen  to 
accompany  them  therein  as  they  should  think  proper  &  to  Report 

thereon 

We    the    Subscribers    accordingly    attended  that    Service  on 
Wednesday  the  6th.  Day  of  July  last  accompanied  by  the  following 
Gentlemen  —  viz'. 
The  Honble.  James  Bowcloin  Esq. 
Thomas  Hubbard  Esq. 
Harrison  Gray  Esq. 
John  Erving  Esq. 
Thomas  Flucker  Esq. 
James  Pitts  Esq. 
James  Otis  Esq. 

The  Representatives  of  the  Town 
[148.]        The  Overseers  of  the  Poor 

The  Revd.  Ebenezer  Pemberton 
Mr.  Samuel  Mather 
Mather  Byles— D:  D: 
Andrew  Eliot  —  D  :  D  : 
Samuel  Cooper  —  D:  D 
Mr.  Samuel  Blair 
Mr.  Penuil  Bowen 
Mr.  Simeon  Howard 
Mr.  John  Lothrop 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.       285 

Mr.  John  Walley 

Mr.  Treasurer  Jeffries 

Samuel  Sewall  Esq. 

Mr.  Timothy  Newell 

William  Phillips  Esq. 

Benjamin  Austin  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Coffin  Junr. 

Mr.  John  Edwards 

Mr.  James  Perkins 

Mr  Jonathan  Simpson  Esq. 

Dr.  Myles  Whitworth 

Dr.  Joseph  Warren 

Cap'-  Nathaniel  Greenwood 

Mr.  William  Davis 

John  Scollay  Esq. 

Samuel  Grant  Esq. 

Coll0.  Thomas  Marshall 

Majr.  James  Cunningham 

William  Homes  Esq. 

Thomas  Daw  Esq. 

Mr.  John  Mico  Wendell 

Samuel  Quincy  Esx. 
And  found  the  South  Grammar  School  had  141  Scholars  the  North 
[149.]  Grammar  School  55  Scholars ;  the  South  Writing  School 
201    Scholars   the   North   Writing  School  in   Queen    Street   260 

Scholars  ;  all  in  good  Order 

Voted,  that  the  above  Report  be  accepted,  and  that  the  Gentle- 
men the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  visit  the  publick  Schools  the  Year 
ensuing,  and  invite  such  Gentlemen  to  accompany  them  as  they 

may  think  proper 

The  Committee  appointed  for  that  purpose  Reported  the  follow- 
ing Draft  of  Instructions  which  was  considered  and  Voted  Para- 
graph by  Paragraph  —  after  which  being  several  Times  distinctly 
read  was  accepted  by  the  Town,  Nomine-Contradicente  

To  the  Honble.  James  Otis  &  Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  Mr.  Samuel 
Adams,  &  John  Hancock.  Esq. 
Gentlemen 

You  have  once  more  received  the  highest  Testimony  of  the  Con- 
fidence and  Affection  of  your  Constituents,  which  the  Constitution 
has  impowered  them  to  exhibit ;  The  Trust  of  Representing  them 
in  the  Great  &  General  Court  or  Assembly  of  this  Province.  This 
important  Trust  is  committed  to  you  at  a  Time  when  your  Country 
demands  the  exertion  of  all  your  Wisdom,  Fortitude  and  Virtue ; 
and  therefore  it  is  presumed  a  free  Communication  of  our  Senti- 
ments caunot  but  be  agreable  to  you 

The  first  Object  of  your  attention  is  the  Privilege  of  that  As- 
sembly of  which  you  are  now  chosen  to  be  Members.  The  Debates 
there  must  be  free  :  You  will  therefore  exei't  yourselves  to  remove 
every  thing  that  ma}*  carry  the  least  appearance  of  an  Attempt  to 
awe  or  intimidate.  As  the  Assembly  is  called  to  set  in  the  usual 
place,  common  Decency,  as  well  as  the  Honor  and  Dignity  of  a 
free   Legislative,  will    require   a  removal  of  those    Cannon  and 


286  City  Document  No.  88. 

Guards,  as  well  as  that  clamorous  Parade  which  has  been  dayly 
round  the  Court  House  since  the  arrival  [150.]  Of  his  Majcstys 
Troops  ;  andat  some  times  while  the  highest  Courts  of  Judicature  has 
been  setting  there  on  the  tryal  even  of  Capitol  Causes  —  When  this 
Grievance  shall  be  removed,  and  the  Debates  of  the  Assembly  shall 
be  free,  it  will  be  natural  to  enquire  into  all  the  Grievances  we  have 
suffered  from  the  Millitary  Power ;  Why  they  have  been  quartered 
in  the  Body  of  this  Town,  in  contradiction  to  the  express  words,  and 
as  we  conceive  the  manifest  intention  of  an  Act  of  Parliment ; 
Why  the  Officers  who  have  thus  violated  our  Rights,  have  not  been 
called  to  account,  and  dealt  with  as  the  Law  required  :  Whether 
the  Measure  taken  by  the  Governor  of  the  Province  in  appointing 
an  extraordinary  Officer  to  provide  Quarters  for  the  Troops,  was 
not  an  evasion  of  the  Act  of  Parliament  made  for  the  Billeting 
and  quartering  his  Majesty s  Troops  in  America  (the  professed  rule 
of  their  Conduct)  and  desigu'd  to  Elude  the  Clause  of  said  Act 
purposely  providing  for  the  convenience  of  American  Subjects  and 
their  Security  against  an  excess  of  Military  power :  Why  the  re- 
peated offences  and  Violences  committed  by  the  Soldiery,  against 
the  peace,  and  in  open  Defiance  and  Contempt  of  the  Civil  Majestrate 
and  the  Laws  have  excaped  punishment  in  the  Courts  of  Justice : 
And  whether  the  Attorney  General  has  not  in  some  late  Instances, 
unduly  exercised  a  power  of  entring  "  Nolle  prosequi"  upon  In- 
dictments without  the  Concurrance  of  the  Court  in  obstruction  to 
the  course  of  Justice  and  to  the  great  Encouragement  of  Violence 
and  Oppression. 

And  as  the  quartering  of  Troops  here  has  proved  the  Occasion  of 
many  Evils,  we  do  earnestly  recommend  to  yon  to  use  your  utmost 
endeavours  for  a  speedy  removal  of  them. 

Should  the  Expence„thathas  been  incurred  in  providing  Barracks 
for  the  Troops,  and  supplying  them  with  Necessaries,  be  required 
of  the  House  of  Representatives,  we  do  in  the  most  solemn  and  ex- 
press manner  enjoin  you,  by  no  means  to  comply  with  such  a  Req- 
uisition. If  the  General  Court  is  a  free  Assembly  no  Power  upon 
Earth  has  Authority  to  compel  it  to  pay  this  Money.  Should  it  ever 
be  deprived  of  its  freedom,  it  shall  never  with  our  Consent  be  made 
[151.]  An  Engine  to  drain  us  of  the  little  Money  we  have  left. 
Another  Object  of  great  Importance,  and  which  requires  your  ear- 
liest attention,  is  a  late  fragrant  and  formal  Attack  upon  the  Con- 
stitution itself :  An  Attempt  not  onby  to  deprive  us  of  the  Liberteis 
Privileges  &  Immunities  of  our  Charter,  but  the  Rights  of  British 
Subjects.  We  have  seen  Copies  of  Letters  published  here  authenti- 
cated by  the  Clerk  of  the  Papers  to  the  Honble :  House  of  Commons, 
the  Contents  of  which  must  have  awakened  the  Jealously  of  the 
Country  —  the  Design  of  the  Writer  is  sufficiently  apparent:  And 
considering  his  Station  as  Representative  of  the  first  Personage  in 
the  Empire,  and  the  rank  of  the  Minister  to  whom  he  Addressed 
himself,  we  cannot  wonder  that  Credit  has  been  given  to  his  Letters 
in  Great  Britain  and  that  they  have  already  produced  Effects 
alarming  to  the  Colonies  &  dangerous  to  both  Countrys.  It  is 
therefore  requested  that  you  use  the  whole  Influence  you  may  have 
that  the  injurious  impressions  which  they  have  unhappily  made,  may 


Boston  Town  Records,   1769.  287 

be  removed  and  that  an  effectual  Antidote  may  be  Administred, 
before  the  Poison  shall  have  wrought  the  Ruin  of  the  Constitu- 
tion.   

It  is  unnecessary  for  us  at  this  Time  to  repeat  our  well  known 
Sentiments  concerning  the  Revenue,  which  is  continually  levied  upon 
us,  to  our  great  Distress,  and  for  no  other  end  than  to  support  a 
great  Number  of  very  unnecessary  Placemen  and  Pensioners.  We 
have  only  to  add  that  our  Sentiments  upon  this  Subject  are  in  no  re- 
spect changed  ;  and  we  expect  that  you  pursue  with  firm  Resolution, 
and  unremitted  Ardor,  every  Measure  that  may  tend  to  procure  us 
Relief  ;  Never  yeilding  your  Consent  to,  or  Connivance  at  the  least 
encroachment  on  our  Rights. 

Next  to  the  Revenue  itself  the  late  Extension  of  the  Jurisdiction 
of  the  Admiralty,  are  our  greatest  Grievance,  The  American  Courts 
of  Admiralty  seem  to  be  forming  by  Degrees  into  a  System  that 
is  to  overturn  our  Constitution,  and  to  deprive  us  intirely  of  our 
best  Inheritance,  the  Law  of  the  Land.  It  would  be  thought  in 
England  a  dangerous  Innovation  if  the  Tryal  of  any  Matter  upon 
Land,  was  given  to  the  Admiral :  It  would  be  thought  more 
threatning  still  [152.]  If  the  power  of  Confiscation,  over  Ships 
and  Cargoes  for  Illicit  Trade  was  committed  to  that  Court  —  But 
if  the  Forfeitures  of  Ships  &  Cargoes,  large  Penalties  upon  Masters, 
and  such  exhorbitent  Penalties  as  the  treble  value  of  Cargoes, 
upon  every  Person  concerned  in  landing  unaccustomed  Goods,  were 
by  Act  of  Parliament  appointed  to  be  tryed  by  the  Admiral,  the 
Nation  would  think  their  Liberties  irrecoverably  lost. 

This  however  is  the  miserable  Case  of  North  America.  In  the 
41.  8  of  the  Statute  of  the  4.  of  George  III  Chapr.  15.  We  find 
"  that  ail  the  Forfeiture  &  Penalties  inflected,  by  this  or  any  o'her  Act 
'*  of  Parliament,  relating  to  the  Trade  and  Revenues  of  the  British 
"  Colonies  or  Plantations  in  America,  ivhich  shall  be  incurred  there 
'■'■may  be  presented,  sued  for  and  recovered  in  any  Court  of 
' ;  Admiralty  in  the  said  Colonies  "  —  That  those  extraordinary  Pen- 
alties &  Forfeitures  are  to  be  heard  and  tryed  —  not  by  a  Jury  — 
not  by  the  Law  of  the  Land  but  by  the  Civil  Law  and  a  single 
Judge  !  Unlike  the  Antienle  Barrovs  who  answered  with  one  voice 
"  We  will  not  that  the  Laws  of  England  be  changed  which  of  old 
have  been  used  and  improved, "  the  Barrons  of  Modern  Times 
seem  to  have  answered,  that  they  are  willing  those  Laws  should 
be  changed  with  regard  to  America  ;  in  the  most  tender  point  and 
fundamental  Principle ! 

And  this  hardship  is  the  most  severe  as  we  see  in  the  same  Page 
of  the  Statutes,  and  the  Section  immediately  preceding  "  that  all 
Penalties  and  Forfeitures  which  shall  be  incurred  in  Great  Britain, 
shall  be  prosecuted  Sued  for  and  recovered,  in  any  of  his  Majestys 
Courts  of  Record  in  Westminster,  or  in  the  Court  of  Exchequer  in 
Scotland  respectively.  "  Here  is  a  Contrast  that  stares  us  in  the 
Face!  A  partial  distinction  that  is  made  between  the  Subjects  in 
Great  Britain  and  the  Subjects  in  America  !  the  Parliament  in  one 
Section  guarding  the  People  of  the  Realm  and  securing  to  them  the 
benefit  of  a  tryal  by  Jury  and  the  Law  of  the  Land,  and  by  the  next 
Session  depriving  Americans  of  those  important  Rights  —  Is  not 


288  City  Document  No.  88. 

this  distinction  a  brand  of  disgrace  upon  every  American  a  Deg- 
radation [153.]  Below  the  Hank  of  an  English  Man?  Is  it  not 
with  respect  to  us  a  Repeal  of  the  29  Chapr.  of  Magna  Charta  "  No 
Freeman  shall  be  taken  and  Imprisoned ,  or  Deprived  of  his  Freehold 
or  Liberties,  or  free  Customs,  or  Outlawed  and  exhi/ed,  or  any  other- 
wise destroyed,  nor  will  toe  pass  upon  him  nor  condemn  him,  but  by 
laiuful  Judgment  of  his  Piers  or  the  Laiv  of  the  Land?  "  Englishmen 
are  inviolably  attached  to  the  Important  Eight  expressed  iu  this 
Clause,  which  for  many  Centeeris  has  been  the  noblest  Monuments 
and  fermest  Bulwark  of  their  Liberties.  One  proof  of  his  Attache- 
ment,  given  us  by  a  great  Sage  of  the  Law,  we  think  proper  to 
mention,  not  for  your  Information,  but  as  the  best  expression 
of  the  sense  of  your  Constituents.  "  Against  this  Ancient  a,nd 
Fundamental  Law,  and  in  the  Face  then  of  says  Lord  Coke  I  find 
on  Act  of  Parliament  made,  that  as  well  Justices  of  Assize,  asjxtstice 
of  Peace,  ivithout  any  finding  or  presentment  of  twelve  Men,  upon  a 
bare  Information  for  the  King  before  them  made,  should  have  full 
power  and  Authority  by  their  discretions  to  hear  and  try  Men  for 
Penalties  and  Forfeitures."  His  Lordship  after  mentioning  the  Re- 
peal of  this  Statute,  and  the  fate  of  Empson  &  Dudley,  who  received 
the  full  weight  of  the  National  Vengeance  for  acting  under  it,  con- 
cludes witli  a  Reflection  which  if  well  Considered,  might  be  sufficient 
to  discourage  such  Attacks  upon  Fundamental  Principles.  "  The  ill 
Successofthis  Stcduie  and  the  fearful  endof  those  two  Opressors,  should 
deter  others  from  committing  the  like,  and  should  admonish  Parlia- 
ments, that  instead  of  this  ordinary  and  precious  Tryal  by  the  Law 
of  the  Land,  they  bring  not  in  absolute  &  partial  Trials  by  dis- 
cretion. —  Such  are  the  feelings  and  Reflections  of  an  English  Man, 
upon  a  Statute  not  unlike  the  Statute  now  under  Consideration  $  and 
upon  Courts  and  Judges  not  unlike  the  Courts  &  Judges  of  Ad- 
mirality  iu  America. 

The  formidable  power  of  these  Courts  and  their  distressing 
Course  of  Proceedings  have  been  severely  felt  within  the  Year  past ; 
many  of  your  Fellow  Citizins  having  been  worn  out  with  Attend- 
ance upon  them,  in  defence  against  Information  for  extravagant 
&  enormous  Penalties.  And  we  have  the  highest  Reason  to  fear 
from  past  Experiences  [154»]  That  if  no  Relief  is  obtained  for  us, 
the  Properties  &  Liberties  of  this  unhappy  Country,  and  its  Morals 
too,  will  be  ruined  by  these  Courts,  and  the  Persons  employed  to 
support  them  . 

We  therefore  earnstly  recommend  to  you,  by  every  legal  Meas- 
ure to  endeavor  that  the  power  of  these  Courts  may  be  con- 
fined to  their  proper  Element,  according  to  the  antient  English 
Statutes  ;  and  that  you  Petition  &  Remonstrate  against  the  late 
Extension  of  their  Jurisdictions ;  and  we  doubt  not  the  other 
Colonies  and  Provinces  who  suffer  with  us  under  them,  will  cheer- 
fully harmonize  with  this  in  every  Justifiable  Measure  that  may  be 
taken  for  a  Redress  

We  need  not  here  take  Occasion  to  Instruct  you,  that  while  you 
in  the  most  ample  manner  testify  your  loyalty  to  our  gracious 
Sovereign,  you  will  strenuously  assert  &  maintain  the  Right  of  the 
Subject  Jointly  or  severally  to  Petition  the   King ;  or  to  declare 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  289 

it  as  our  clear  Opinion,  that  the  House  of  Representatives  in 
any  one  Province  has  an  undeniable  Right,  whenever  a  Just 
Occasion  shall  offer,  to  communicate  their  Sentiments  upon  a  com- 
mon concern  to  the  Assembly  of  any  or  all  the  other  Colonies,  and 
to  unite  with  them  in  humble  dutiful  &  loyal  Petitions  for  Redress 

of  a  general  Grievance 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  3,  O'Clock  P :  M  : 

3  O'Clock  P :  M  :    Met  according  to  Adjournm'. 

Voted,  unanimously,  that  the  Instructions  given  our  Representa- 
tives relative  to  their  Conduct  in  the  General  Assembly  be  published 
in  the  several  News  Papers 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded. 

[155.]  Voted,  that  it  gives  high  satisfaction  to  the  Town  to  be 
informed  that  our  Merchants  have  so  strictly  adhered  to  their 
Agreement  relative  to  a  Non  Importation  of  European  Merchandize 
and  that  it  be  and  hereby  is  recommended  to  the  Inhabitants  not  to 
purchase  any  Goods  of  those  few  Persons  who  have  imported  any 
Articles  in  the  Vessels  lately  arrived  from  Great  Britain,  not  allowed 
of  by  said  Agreement,  and  that  on  the  contrary  they  will  use  their  In- 
fluence to  promote  in  the  way  of  Trade  the  Interest  of  those  Gentle- 
men, who  have  nobly  preferred  the  future  wellfare  of  their  Country 
and  all  North  America  to  any  present  advantages  of  their  own 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded —  Voted,  that 
Mr.  William  Whitwell 
Thomas  Daws  Esq. 
Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 
Mr.  Alexander  Hill 
Mr.  Ezekiel  Price 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  examine  the  Town 
Treasurers  Accounts  now  before  the  Town,  and  to  make  a  full  en- 
quiry  into   the   state   of  the  Town  Treasury,  aud  the  Debts  and 
Credits  of  the  Town   and  also  to  Report  the  same  at  the  Adjourn- 
ment together  with  what  Sum  or  Sums  may  be  necessary  to  be  raised 
for  the  ensuing  Year  as  a  Town  Tax 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  the  22d.  Instant  9 
O'Cloclc.  A  :  M  :  and  that  Notifications  be  issued  informing  the  In- 
habitants of  the  Business  which  will  then  come  before  them 

May  22d.  — Town  Met  according  to   Adjournment 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  for  paving  the  upper 
end  of  Long  Lane  was  read —  whereupon  Voted,  that  the  Town 
will  pay  One  third  part  of  the  Expence  of  paving  the  same  pro- 
vided it  be  done  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen 

[156.  J  Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen  be  and  they 
hereby   are   appointed   a   Committee    to    act    upon   the    List   of 

Jurors 

Mess".  Thomas  Bayley 
John  Gill 
were  chose  Suveyors  of  Boards  for  the  Year  ensuing 

A  Letter  from  the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen  of  Cliarlestown 
acquainting  the  Town  with  the  Agreement  entred  into  by  the  In- 
habitants of  that  Town  not  to  purchase  any  L-.imb  or  suffer  an}'  to 


290  City  Document  No.  88. 

be  Cooked  in  their  Familys  before  the  first  Day  of  August  1 769 — 
and  desiring  the  concurrance  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Boston  in  this 
Measure  for  Reasons  mentioned  in  said  Letter  —  was  read  —  where- 
upon 

Voted,  that  Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 

Mr.  Ezekiel  Price 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Homes 

Mr.  Benjamin  Harrod 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Barber 

Mr.  Jonathan  Amory 

Mr.  John  Ballard 

Mr.  Peter  Johonnot 

William  Homes  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Baves 

Mr.  William  Boardman 

Mr.  Thomas  Jackson 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  draw  up  &  procure 
Subscriptions  to  a  Agreement  not  to  purchase  any  Lamb  for  Family 

consumption  'till  the  first  of  July  next 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  Accounts  of  Mr.  David 
Jeffries  Town  Treasurer  have  attended  that  service  and  find  the 
same  right  Cast  and  well  Vouched,  in  which  he  Charges  himself 
with  some  Fines,  Rents  &  other  Incomes  of  the  Town  as  also 
[157.]  With  the  Tax  of  £6000  —  all  which  amount  to  the  Sum  of 

£10744  ,,  10  ,,  5/2  including  the   Balance  of  old  Accounts. 

And  the  said  Treasurer  discharges  hinself  by  sundry  Abatements 
made  the  Collectors  amounting  to  £726  ,,  4  ,,  3.  By  Drafts  made  by 
the  Selectmen  amounting  to  £3069  ,,  1  ,,5.  of  which  he  has  paid 
£2199  ,  2  ,,11/2  And  by  Drafts  made  by  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor 
.which  contain  the  Charges  of  the  Almshouse  amounting  to  £2652  , , 
4  ,,  7/4  of  which  he  has  paid  £1480  ,,  2  ,,  1/2  —  Also  by  sundry 
Sums  paid  for  Interest  amounting  to  £206  ,,  13  ,,  3/2  the  whole 

amounting  to  £7453  ,,  13  ,,  7/4. 

The  said  Committee  have  inspected  said  Drafts  in  a  very  partic- 
ular manner,  and  have  examined  the  Vouchers  produced  by  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  amount  of  their  Drafts,  and  every 
other  branch  of  public  Charge  amounting  in  all  as  above  to 
£7453  ,,  13  ,,  7/4  as  by  Account  of  Town  Treasury  in  the  Town 
Treasurers  Books  Balance  whereof  being  £3290  ,,  16  ,,  10/4  is 
carried  to  the  Credit  of  new  Accounts "  which  Report  and 
Account  being  read.      Voted,  that  the  same   be   and   hereby  is 

accepted. 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  Two  Constables,  and  upon 

sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Messrs.  George  Thomas 
John  Peirce 

were  chose  Constables  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Committee  Appointed  the  8  Instant  to  examine  the  Town 
Treasurers  Account  now  before  the  Town,  and  to  make  a  full  en- 
quiry into  the  state  of  the  Town  Treasury  and  Debts  and  Credits 
of  the  Town,  as  also  to  Report  the  same  at  the  Adjournment 
together  with  what  Sum  or  Sums  of  Money  may  be  necessary  to 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  291 

be  raised  for  the  ensuing  Year  as  a  Town  Tax  having  attended 

that  service,  beg  leave  to  Report  as  follows. 

Debts  due  to  the  Province  Treasury,  from  the  Five  following 
persons  [158.]  Collectors  May  18  Instant  —>-  Viz1. 
Due  from  Jon\  Payson  Esq.  a  former  Collector  for  1766-£575,,14,,6 

from  Mr.  Sampson  Salter for  1767 -«71,, 12, ,3 

from  Mr.  Samuel  Ruggles  Junr.     -     -     -  for  1767  -  603,, 16,, 7 

from  Mr.  Abraham  Savage for  1767  -  402, ,19, ,7 

from  Mr.  Edward  Hollyday for  1767-    76, ,15, ,8 

Balance  due  to   Province  Treasury  from   the 

above  Collectors  £2530, ,18, ,7 

Due  from  Jonathan  Payson  Esq.  a  former  Collector  ) 

to  the  Town  for  1766 j    £746,,  7,, 9 

With  the  above  Sum  due  to  the  Province  Treasury   575, ,14, ,6 

£1322, ,2, ,3 
Deduct  the  Premium  from  said  Sum  when  paid    -     -         190,,  ,,- 

Leaves  a  Balance  due  from  said  Payson      -     -     -     -     £1132, ,2, ,3 

Mone3"S  due  on  Interest 

To  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  1767.  &  1768     -     £1011,,14„10 
To  the  Sum  borrowed  for  the  Overseers  to  purchase 

Grain  400,, — ,, — 

To  Mr.  Lazinby  and  Mr.  Farmer  Master  of  the  Work  )    ?„„ 

House  and  Alms  House )  "     " 

To  the  several  School  Masters    -------     1600,, — ,, — 

To  sundry  Persons  borrowed-     -------     2126,, — ,, — 

To  Sum  borrowed  for  Mr.  Mullineux    -----       500,, — ,, — 

£6204„14„10 
Interest  now  due  to  School  Masters  and  others  -  -  402,, — ,, — 
The  Committee  also  find   by  Accounts    from   the  *) 

-  -  -  Town  Treasurer  that  the  Moneys  due  to  sundry    | 

Persons  who  Rebuilt  Faneuil  Hall  for  which    J-  1452,,- 

the  Town  pays   Interest  amount   to,  as  will 

-  -  -  appear  from  the  state  of  the  Lottery  hereto 

annexed  ------------- 

As  the  Committee   cannot  with  certainty  ascertain 

the  Towns  part  of  the  Sum  on  Interest  for  the 

new  Court  House  and  Goal,  we  suppose  it  to  be 

about £1200,,—,,— 

As  also  the  Charges  already  commenced  for  Rebuild- 

ing  of  the  County  Goal 900,, — ,, — 

Total  of  the  supposed  Sum  on  Interest  for  the  Towns 

part  of  ye.  County  Tax £2100,,—,,— 

[159.]  The  state  of  the  Town  Treasury  by  the  Treasurers 
Accounts  in  March  last  stood  thus.  Debts  £8511  ,,  16  ,,  7.  The 
Credits  £8821  ,,  The  Committee  would  observe  here  that  a  part  of 
the  above  Credit  is  under  such  Circumstances  as  to  render  the 
same  insuP^ient  to  discharge  the  Debts  bv  the  Sum  of  £1272  ,,  — 


292  City  Document  No.  88. 

after  the  Tax  of  £6000 is  paid  into  the  Treasury  for  1768  — 

And  the  Arrears  due  from  Mr.  Payson  for  17GG.  amounting  to 
£746  ,,  7  ,,  9  —  The  Interest  arising  on  the  above  Sum  of  £6204  ,, 
14  ,,  10  being  £372- — It  therefore  appears  to  the  Commtee.  necessary 
for  the  Town  to  raise  the  aforementioned  Sums  amounting  to 
£1644  ,,  16  ,, — over  and  above  what  is  necessary  to  defrey  the 
Charges  of  the  present  Year,  which  we  would  suppose  to  be 
£6355  ,,  4/.  so  that  the  whole  Sum  proposed  to  be  Raised  by  the 

Town  is  £8000 provided   some   more  effectual   Measures  be 

pursued  for  the  payment  of  the  Taxes  in  the  Treasury,  than  has 

heretofore  been  practised  by  the  Town 

State  of  the  Lottery    ------ 

1767  — February  10th.  To  Mr.  Temple  De  Coster     -     £230,,—,,— 

To  Onesipherus  Tileston  -     -        650,, — ,, — 
19:    To  Samuel  Ruggles     -     -     -       312,,—,,— 

To  Thomas  Dawes      -     -     -       260,, — ,, — ■ 


Notes  on  Interest £1452,, — ,, — 

Due  to  John  Hancock  Esq.  ------     20 

to  Robert  Gould 13,,  6, ,8 

Leanord  Jarvis   --------     13,,  6, ,8 


£1498, ,13, ,4 


1769  — May  20  £ 

By  Cash  in  the  hands  of  Thorn".  Cushing  Esq.  171,,  10,, 8 

By  Ditto  in  the  hands  of  John  Ruddock  Esq.  128,,  2,,- 

By  Ditto  in  the  hands  of  Treasurer  -     -     -     -  307, ,12,, - 

£607,,  4„8 
Ballance  due     ------    891,,  8, ,8 


£1498, ,13, ,4 


Your  Committee  are  of  Opinion  it  would  be  for  the  Interest  of 
[160.]  The  Town  to  have  the  Tax  for  1769  Collected  and  paid 
into  the  Treasury  by  the  Time  fixed  by  the  Town  for  the  payment 
of  the  same,  the  Expence  of  the  Town  it  is  probable  would  be 
thereby  lessoned,  as  it  would  be  in  the  power  of  the  Selectmen 
and  Overseers  of  the  Poor  to  purchase  what  was  wanted  for  the 
Towns  use  at  a  much  cheaper  rate  with  the  Cash  then  upon 
Credit 

Your  Committee  are  also  of  Opinion  that  the  Outstanding  Debts 
due  to  the  Town  should  be  Collected  and  paid  in  forthwith,  in 
order  to  discharge  the  Interest  Money  now  due,  as  well  as  to 
lesson  the  Principle 

They  also  recommend  to  the  Town  to  Choose  Collectors  to  Col- 
lect the  Town  Tax  the  next  Year  sepperate  from  the  Collectors 
for  the  Province  and  County,  for  by  having  the  Taxes  come  out 
so  late  in  the  Year  as  formerly,  the  Town'has  for  a  considerable 
Time  been  One  Year  behind  hand  —  To  remedie  this  in  part  if  the 
Town  Tax  was  laid  early  and   sepperate  Collectors  chosen,  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1760.  293 

same  or  the  greater  part  may  be  Collected  in  the  Year,  and  thereby 
save  a  great  part  of  the  Sum  we  otherwise  must  pay  Interest  for 
on  Moneys  borrowed 

The  above  Report  having  been  read  and  considered  —  the  Ques- 
tion was  put — Whether  the  same  shaD  be  accepted  — Passed  in 
the  Affermative 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  Voted,  that  the  Town 
Treasurer  be  directed  that  in  case  Major  Jonathan  Payson  a  late 
Collector  of  Taxes  does  not  pay  in  to  the  Town  Treasury  his  Town 
Tax  before  July  next,  or  give  security  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
Selectmen,  to  pay  the  Principal  and  Interest  thereof —  that  then 
his  Bonds  be  put  in  Suit  next  July  Court. 

Voted,  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  directed  to  call  upon  all  the 
Collectors  of  Taxes  to  hasten  the  Collection  of  the  Taxes  com- 
mitted to  them 

[161.]  And  that  if  he  finds  any  deficiency,  he  then  call  upon 
the  Province  Treasurer  to  issue  his  Executions  against  them 

Voted,  that  Mr.  William  Whitwell 
Thomas  Daws  Esq. 
Melatiah  Bourn  Esq. 
Mr.  Alexander  Hill 
Mr.  Ezekiel  Price 
be  a  standing  Committee  to  inspect  the  state  of  the  Town  Treasury, 
and  from  time  to  time   to  Report   upon   that  and   other  Money 
Matters,  and  if  they  see  fit  to  Apply  to  the  Selectmen  for  a  Town 
Meeting  to  be  called  upon  the  same 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Eight  Thousand  Pounds  be  Raised  by  a 
Tax  upon  Polls  and  Estates  within  this  Town,  for  Relief  of  the 
Poor  and  defreying  other  necessary  Charges  arising  within  the 
Town  the  ensuing  Year 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  Voted,  that  Mr.  William 
Whitwell  and  others  a  Standing  Committee  to  inspect  the  State  of 
the  Treasury,  be  a  Committee  to  call  upon  the  late  Manufactory 
Company  for  the  Money  due  from  them  to  the  Town  and  if  they 
do  not  pay  the  same,  that  they  then  apply  to  the  Town  Treasurer 
to  bring  an  Action  against  them  for  the  same 

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  AVarden  in  the  room  of 
Mr.  William  Powell,  excused   from   serving   on   account   of   his 

Health  —  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Mr.  John  Cunningham 

was  chosen  a  Warden  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Voted,  that  all  Matters  and  Things  which  remain  unfinished  at 
this  Meeting  be  and  hereby  are  referred  over  to  the  next  General 
Town  Meeting  to  be  then  Considered  of  and  acted  upon  at  said 
Meeting. 

[162.]  Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be 
&  hereby  are  given  to  the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  the  Moderator 

of  this  Meeting  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


294  Crrr  Document  No.  88. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  &  warned  in  publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Tuesday  the  13th.  Day  of 
June  Anno  Domini  1769 


AVarrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  read 


The  £lonble.  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator,  but  the 
Constable  not  being  able  to  find  him,  the  Town  proceeded  to  the 
choice  of  another,  and  upon  bringing  in  the  Votes  appeared  that 
Richard  Dana  Esq.  was  chosen,  who  took  the  Oaths  respecting 
his  paying  and  receiving  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Governments  of 
Connecticut,  New  Hampshire  and  Rhode  Island  as  required  by  an 

Act  of  this  Province 

[163.]  The  Committee  Appointed  on  the  4  Day  of  May  last 
relative  to  the  Grist  Mills  at  the  North  part  of  Boston  —  Report 
—  That  on  the  twenty-seventh  Day  of  May  A  D  :  1769  they  did 
pursuant  to  Appointment  Repair  to  the  Premisses  mentioned  in  the 
Report  of  a  former  Committee  made  to  the  Town  the  fifth  of  said 
May,  and  there  took  some  Possession  and  Seizon  of  that  part  of 
the  Premisses  —  viz*. —  The  Land  whereon  the  Grist  Mills  lately 
stood,  and  the  Lands  Adjoining  to  and  about  the  same,  in  the 
Name  of  the  whole,  this  the  Committee  did  in  behalf  of  the  In- 
habitants of  the  Town  of  Boston 

In  the  Name  and  by  direction  of  the  Committee 

James   Otis 
We  the  Subscribers  were  present  and  saw  the  Committee  aforesaid 
take  Possession  and  Seizon  of   the  Premisses  aforesaid  as  above 
mentioned  by  Turf  &  Twig,  and  left  them  in  quiet  Possession  of 

the  same  May  27.  1769 Jonas  Bond,  Thomas 

Robbins,  Junr. 

The  above  Report  having  been  read  —  Voted,  that  the  same  be 

accepted  

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  relative  to  the  Grist  Mills  by  the 
Mill  Bridge  was  read  and  Considered,  whereupon  Voted  that  — — 

The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq. 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 

John  Ruddock  Esq. 

John  Hancock  Esq. 

Samuel  Pemberton  Esq. 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches 

Mr.  Jonathan  Mason 

Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Esq. 

Mr.  Edward  Payne 

Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 

John  Barrett  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  pursue  what  [164.] 
Steps  may  be  necessary  for  recovering  the  actual  Possession  of  the 
Dwelling  House  and  Land  near  to  the  Grist  Mills  by  the  Mill 
Bridge,  as  also  to  prosecute  in  the  Law  such  Suit  and  Suits  as 
may  be  effectual  for  obtaining  for  the  Town  quiet  Possession  of 
said  Premisses,  or  any  part  thereof ;  and  to  pursue  the  same  untill 
final  Judgement  and  Execution 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  29'5 

John  Tucler  Esq.  and  some  others  of  the  Proprietors  of  the 
Grist  Mills  near  the  Mill  Bridge  being  present  were  (at  their 
desire)  heard  thc±  Matters  relative  to  said  Mills  now  under  the 
Consideration  of  the  Town,  and  afterwards  upon  a  Motion  made 
and  seconded,  It  was  Voted,  that  the  above  Committee  be  and  they 
hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee,  to  Confer  with  the  Proprietors 
of  said  Mills,  the  Major  part  of  them,  or  such  a  Committee  as  they 
shall  appoint,  relative  to  said  Mills,  &  receive  such  Proposals  as 
they  shall  give  in  Writing  under  their  hands  &  Report  the  same  to 
the  Town  at  the  Adjournment  of  this  Meeting,  that  so  the  Town 
may  proceed  further  thereon  as  shall  be  thought  proper,  and  this 
the  Committee  are  desired  to  do  before  any  Suit  is  brought  for 
possession  of  said  premisses 

The  Petition  of  Jonathan  Payson  Esq.  a  late  Collector  of  Taxes, 
that  three  Months  longer  Time  may  be  allowed  him  to  Collect  his 
Outstanding  Debts  and  pay  the  Town  —  was  read  and  Considered  ; 
and  the  Question  being  put  Whether  the  same  shall  be  accepted  — 
Passed  in  the  Affermative ■ 

Adjourned  to  Tuesday  the  4  July  3  O'Clock  P :  M : 

Tuesday  July  4  1769.  3  O'Clock  P:  M:  Met  according  to  Ad- 
journment. 

[165,]  The  Committee  relative  to  the  Grist  Mills  Report — 
That  they  had  met  a  majority  of  the  Proprietors,  who  appeared 
for  themselves  &  the  other  Proprietors  absent  and  conferred  with 
them  relative  to  the  Matters  desired,  and  had  also  received  Pro- 
posals  from   said    Proprietors    in   Writing    which    they   herewith 

present  to  the  Town 

Joseph  Jackson  Chairman 

The  Committee  to  conferr  with  the  Proprietors  of  the  Mills  and 
to  receive  any  proposals  in  Writing  and  hand  in  to  the  Town  at  the 
Adjournment,  have  Reported  to  the  Town  certain  Proposals,  which 
they  had  just  received  from  the  Proprietors,  which  Proposals  being 
read  and  largely  debated  —  the  Question  was  put  —  Whether  the 
Proposals  shall  be  accepted  —  Passed  in  the  Negative  Nemine 
Contr 

Voted,  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  Richard  Dana  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting, 
for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  public  Town  Meet- 
ing Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Tuesday  the  4th  July  Anno 
Domini  1769.  4  O'Clock  P  :  M  : 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting read. 

[166.]  Richard  Dana  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting,  &  took  the  Oaths  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments  as  required  by  an  Act  of 
this  Province 


296  City  Document  No.  88. 

The  Petition  of  a  great  number  of  respectable  Inhabitants  set- 
ting forth  —  "  That  some  Persons  have  as  they  are  informed  from 
good  Authority,  petitioned  or  requested  of  his  Excellency  Sir 
Francis  Bernard  Barronet,  Commander  in  Chief  of  this  Province, 
that  the  14th  or  some  other  other  Regiment  may  be  detained  in  this 
Town  in  order  to  protect  their  Lives  and  Properties,  notwithstand- 
ing the  Laws  of  the  Land  make  ample  provision  for  the  Security 
of  all  his  Majestys  Subjects,  without  the  aid  of  any  Military  force 
whatever ;  and  fearing  such  Report  may  be  Represented  to  Ad- 
ministration as  the  Sense  of  the  Inhabitants,  they  pray  that  such 
steps  may  be  taken  as  the  Town  shall  think  proper,  to  prevent  the 
ill  effects  of  such  Representations,  and  to  convince  the  World  that 
the  Residence  of  a  Military  Power  in  the  Body  of  this  Metropolis 
is  upon  various  Considerations;  quite  disagreable  to  the  Inhabi- 
tants "  —  was  read  and  Considered  —  and  the  following  Votes 
passed 

Whereas  this  Town  have  in  diverse  ways,  more  particularly  in 
a  late  humble  Petition  to  our  most  gracious  Sovereign,  expressed 
their  Grief  and  astonishment  to  find  Accounts  had  been  trans- 
mitted from  hence  to  Administration  representing  this  Town  to  be 
in  a  state  of  disorder  and  confusion,  and  in  opposition  to  the  due 
restraints  of  Law  and  Constitutional  Authority  thereby  inducing 
the  necessity  of  a  military  Power  to  aid  the  Civil  Majestrate  and 
preserve  the  Peace;  And  whereas  in  said  Petition  the  Town  de- 
clare these  Accounts  to  be  ill  grounded  which  have  represented 
them  as  held  to  their  Allegiance  &  Duty,  only  by  the  Band  of 
Terror  and  the  force  of  Arms,  and  at  the  same  time  humbly  sup- 
plicate his  Majesty  to  remove  the  Military  power  now  among  us, 
which  they  were  unanimous  in  their  Opinion  was  a  Power  unnec- 
essary—  a  power  unfavourable  to  Commerce  [167.]  Destructive 
to  Morals,  dangerous  to  Law,  and  tending  to  overthrow  the  Civil 
Constitution  —  therefore  Voted,  unanimously  That  such  Persons 
among  us  if  any  such  there  be  as  have  Petitioned  Governor  Ber- 
nard, or  in  an}r  other  way  signified  their  desire,  that  some  of  the 
Troops  may  be  detained  for  the  preservation  of  their  Persons  & 
Properties  have  therein  counteracted  the  declared  Sense  of  the 
Town,  discovered  themselves  ignorant  of  its  true  Interest,  and 
highly  inamical  to  its  Peace  and  Prosperity  —  also 

Voted  unanimously,  that  if  on  any  Occasion  it  should  become 
necessary,  the  Town  are  and  always  have  been  ready  to  Obey  and 
Assist  the  Civil  Majestrate  in  the  due  Execution  of  the  good  and 
wholesome  Laws  of  this  Land,  which  they  are  of  Opinion  will  be 
sufficient  for  the  preservation  of  peace  and  good  crder,  without 
any  Military  and  forreign  aid  whatever 

Upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded  —  Voted,  that  the  aforegoing 
Votes  be  printed  in  one  of  the  publick  News  Papers,  subject  to 
the  Corrections  of  the  Moderator,  he  not  to  depart  from  the  sense 
thereof  

Voted,  unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and 
hereby  are  given  to  Richard  Dana  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


Boston  Town  Records,  17G9.  297 

[168.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  &  warned  in  publielc  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  4th  Day  of 

October  Anno  Domini  1769 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     ------     read. 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting,  and  took  the  Oaths  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments,  as  required  by  an  Act 

of  this  Province 

Agreable  to  the  Notification  of  the  Selectmen  it  was  ordered 
that  the  authentick  Copies  of  the  several  Letters  Memorials  &c. 
wrote  by  Governor  Bernard,  Commodore  Hood,  the  Commissioners 
of  the  Customs  and  others,  to  the  Ministry,  which  were  laid  before 
the  Parliament  and  transmitted  to  the  Selectmen  by  William 
Bollan  P^sq.  be  read,  so  far  as  they  relate  to  this  Town  :  And  they 

were  read  accordingly 

A  Motion  was  then  made,  and  it  was  unanimously  Voted,  That 
the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to  William  Bollan 
Esq.  for  his  generous  care  in  transmitting  to  the  Selectmen 
authentick  Copies  of  Letters  wrote  to  his  Majestys  Ministers  of 
State,  by  Governor  Bernard,  General  Gage,  Commodore  Hood 
and  others,  and  also  of  several  Memorials  of  the  Commissioners 
of  the  Customs  in  America  —  In  which  Letters  and  Memorials  the 
Disposition  and  Conduct  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  have 
been  grossly  misrepresented  to  their  Sovereign,  in  Consequence 
whereof  they  have  been  sensibly  affected  with  the  Marks  of  his 
Majestys  [169.]  Displeasure  —  And  that  the  Moderator  be 
directed  to  transmit  this  Vote  of  Thanks  to  Mr.  Bollan,  for  so 
seasonable  and  important  a  service.  Also 
Voted,  unanimously,  that 

The  HonWe.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams 

John  Adams  Esq. 

The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq. 

Dr.  Joseph  Warren 

Richard  Dana  Esq. 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq. 

Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  Consider  what 
Measures  are  proper  to  be  taken  to  vindicate  the  Character  of  the 
Town  from  the  false  and  injurious  representations  contained  in 
the  Letters  &  Memorials  aforesaid,  arid  Report  at  the  Adjourn- 
ment of  this  Meeting 

After  which  upon  a  Motion  made  the  following  Vote  was  unani- 
mously passed  

The  Merchants  not  only  of  this  Metropolis  but  through  the  Con- 
tinent having  nobly  preferred  the  publick  Good  to  their  own  pri- 
vate Emolument:  And  with  a  View  to  obtain  a  Redress  of  the 
Grievances  so  loudly  and  Justly  complained  of,  having  almost 
unanimously  engaged  to  suspend  their  Importation  from  Great 
Britain :  A  Measure  approved  by  all  Orders  as  legal  peaceable, 


298  City  Document  No.  88. 

and  most  likely  of  all  other  to  effect  the  salutary  design  in  view ; 
iind  which  will  be  regarded  by  Posterity  with  Veneration,  for  the 
disinterested  and  truly  publick  Spirit  appearing  in  it :  The  Town 
cannot  but  express  their  Astonishment  and  Indignation,  that  any 
of  its  Citizens  should  be  so  lost  to  the  feelings  of  Patriotism,  and 
the  common  Interest,  and  so  thoroughly  &  infamously  selfish  as 
to  obstruct  this  very  Measure,  by  continuing  their  Importation 
[170.]  Be  it  therefore  solemnly  Voted,  that  the  Names  of  those 
Persons  few  indeed  to  the  Honor  of  the  Town,  viz'  John  Bernard, 
Nathaniel  Rogers  Theophilus  Little,  James  McMasters  and 
Company,  John  Mein,  Thomas  Hutchinson  Junb.  and  Elisiia 
Hutchinson — be  entred  on  the  Records  of  this  Town,  that 
roxierity  may  know,  who  those  Persons  were  that  preferred  their 
little  private  advantage  to  the  common  Interest  of  all  the  Colonies, 
in  a  point  of  the  greatest  Importance  ;  who  not  only  deserted  but 
opposed  their  Country,  in  a  struggle  for  the  Rights  of  the  Consti- 
tution, that  must  ever  do  it  honor :  And  who  with  a  design  to 
enrich  themselves,  basely  took  Advantage  of  the  generous  self 
denial  of  their  Fellow  Citizens  for  the  Common  Good. 

Ordered  that  the  aforegoing  Votes  be  printed  in  the  Several 
publick  News  Papers  — - — 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Wednesday  the  18 
Instant  at  10  O' Clock  in  the  Fore-Noon 

October  18  10  O'Clock  A :  M  :  Met  according  to  Adjourn- 
ment  

The  Honb,e.  James  Otis  Esq.  Chairman  of  the  Committee  ap- 
pointed to  transmit  a  Petition  of  the  Town  to  the  HonbIe.  Isaac 
Barre  Esq.  of  Loudon  by  him  to  be  presented  to  his  Majesty ; 

received  the  following  Letter  which  was  read  to  the  Town 

Bath  July  20  1769. 
Sir 

I  had  the  honor  of  receiving  your  Letter  with  its  Inclosures  on 
the  first  of  June.  It  gives  me  very  great  satisfaction  to  find  that 
my  publick  Conduct  continues  to  meet  with  the  approbation  of  so 
respectable  a  Body  of  his  Majestys  loyal  Subjects,  and  I  feel  my- 
self much  flatter'd  with  receiving  the  Commands  of  the  [171.] 
Inhabitants  of  Boston  —  I  am  now  to  acquaint  you  that  the  Day 
after  your  Letter  reached  my  hand  I  had  the  honor  of  laying  at 
the  Kings  Feet,  the  Petition  which  you  transmitted  to  me,  ad- 
dressed to  his  Majesty. 

Your  Fellow  Citizens,  Sir,  may  rest  assured  that  their  applica- 
tion to  the  Throne  for  Redress,  has  not  upon  this  occasion  been 
intercepted  

Their  situation  and  Grievances  are  stated  by  themselves,  are 
now  fully  known  to  their  Sovereign,  whose  Princely  Virtues  give 
them  abundant  reason  to  be  perswaded  with  me,  that  his  heart 
will  feel  and  his  own  genuine  wisdom  will  in  due  course  of  time 
dictate  the  most  proper  methods  of  alleviating  the  distresses  of  his 
faithful  Subjects,  however  remote  they  may  be  from  his  Royal 
Presence 

Permit  me  to  add  my  sincere  wishes  that  the  future  measures 
for  the  better  governing  of  America  may  be  of  such  a  conciliating 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  299 

nature  as   will  effectually   restore   that   affection   and   obedience 
which  formerly   characterized  all  the  dependances  of  this   great 

Nation 

I  am 

with  personal  esteem  and  regard 
Sir 
Your  most  obedient  &  most 

humble  servant 
Isaac  Barkee 

The  Committee  appointed  the  4  Instant  "  to  Considei  what 
Measures  are  proper  to  be  taken  to  vindicate  the  Character  of  the 
Town  from  the  false  and  injurious  Representations  contained  in 
the  Letters  &  Memorials  wrote  by  Governor  Bernard,  Commodore 
Hood,  the  Commissioners  of  the  Customs  and  others  "  Reported  a 
Draft ;  And  upon  a  Motion  made  and  seconded,  the  Same  was 
recommitted,  and  the  Committee  desired  to  Report  again  in  the 
Afternoon. 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  4  O' Clock.  P :  M : 

[172.]  October  18th.  4.  O'Clock  P:M:  Met  according  to 
Adjournment 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Collector  of  Taxes 
in  the  room  of  Mr.  Samuel  Ruggles  Junr.  who  declined  serving  and 

upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Mr.  Jacob  Wendell 
was  chosen  into  that  Office 

The  Committee  according  to  Order,  again  Reported  ?  Draft 
relative  to  Governor  Bernard,  Commodore  Hood,  General  Gages 
&  Commissioners  Letters  and  Memorials,  (see  at  the  close  of  this 
Year  the  same  recorded  at  large)  — which  Report  being  read  and 
considered,  was  unanimously  accepted,  and  Ordered  to  be  pub- 
lished and  the  Committee  were  directly  respectfully  to  transmit  a 
printed  Copy  of  the  same  to  the  following  Gentlemen.  Viz'.  — 
The  IlonUe.  Coll".  Isaac  Barree  Esq.  a  Member  of  Parliament, 
His  Excellency  Thomas  Pownall  Esq.  late  Governor  of  this  Prov- 
ince, and  a  Member  of  Parliament,  Benjamin  Franklin  Esq. 
Doctor  of  Laws,  William  Bollan  Esq.  Agent  for  his  Majestys 
Council  of  this  Province,  Dennis  Deberdt  Esq.  Agent  for  the 
House  of  Representatives,  and  Barlow  Trecothick  Esq.  Alderman 
of  the  City  of  London,  and  a  Member  of  Parliament 

Then  the  Committee  made  Report  of  the  following  Resolves 
Viz'. 

Resolved,  That  the  Letters  and  Memorials  of  Governor  Bernard 
and  the  Commissioners  of  the  Customs  in  America,  transmitted  by 
them  respectively  to  his  Majestys  Ministers,  and  laid  before  the 
Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  authentick  Copys  of  which  are  now 
before  this  Town,  had  a  tendency  to  deceive  the  Ministry,  and  lead 
them  unavoidably  to  misinform  his  Majesty,  with  Regard  to  the 
Affections  and  loyalty  of  his  American  Subjects  in  general : 
[17«5.1  And  that  the  said  Governor  Bernard  and  the  Commis- 
sioners have  perticularly  in  their  Letters  and  Memorials  before 
mentioned,  discovered  an  implacable  Enmity  to  this  Town,  and  ihe 


300  City  Document  No.  88. 

most  virulent  Endeavors  to  traduce  it  even  to  his  Majesty  himself, 
by  Means  whereof  the  Inhabitants  very  sensibly  feel  the  Dis- 
pleasure of  their  gracious  Sovereign 

Resolved,  That  this  Town  have  Reason  to  rejoice  in  the  Measure 
taken  by  the  Honble.  House  of  Representatives,  in  the  last  Session 
of  the  General  Assembly  ;  by  so  seasonably  preferring  their  dutiful 
and  loyal  Petition  to  his  Majesty,  for  the  removal  of  Governor 
Bernard  forever,  from  the  Government  of  this  Province  :  And  the 
Town  take  this  Opportunity  to  express  their  most  ardent  wish, 
that  the  Prayer  of  said  Petition  to  his  Majesty  may  be  graciously 
heard  and  granted 

Resolved,  That  General  Gage  and  Commodore  Hood  in  their 
Several  Letters  to  his  Majestys  Ministers  and  Servants,  authentick 
Copies  of  which  are  now  before  the  Town,  have  discovered  an 
unreasonable  Prejudice  against  the  Town.  And  the  General  in 
particular,  in  declaring  in  his  Letter  to  the  Right  Honble.  the  Earl 
of  Hillsborough,  one  of  his  Majestys  Secrataries  of  State  that  "  in 
truth  there  was  very  little  Government  in  Boston  "  and  in  making 
use  of  other  Expressions  alike  severe,  has  done  great  injustice  to 
the  Town,  and  an  irreparable  injury.  And  it  is  moreover  the 
Opinion  of  the  Town,  that  the  readiness  he  has  discovered  to 
receive  unfavourable  Impressions  of  it,  and  the  publick  Testimony 
he  was  prevailed  on  to  bear  against  it,  before  he  could  have  had 
Time  to  make  an  impartial  Enquiry,  betrayed  a  want  of  Candor 
unbecoming  his  Station  and  Character 

Resolved,  That  many  of  the  Letters  &  Memorials  aforesaid  are 
false  scandalous  and  infamous  Libels  upon  the  Inhabitants  of  this 
Town,  Province  and  Continent,  of  the  most  virulent  and  Malicious, 
as  well  as  dangerous  and  pernicious  tendency :  And  that  the 
Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  directed,  to  apply  and  complain  to 
proper  authority,  that  the  wicked  Authors  of  these  incendiary 
Libels,  may  be  proceeded  with  [174.]  According  to  Law,  and 
brought  to  condign  punishment. 

Voted,  That  Messr8.  Edes  and  Gill  have  the  printing  of  the 
vindication  of  the  Town  of  Boston  from  the  many  false  and  ma- 
licious Aspersions  contained  in  Governor  Bernard,  and  others 
Letters  &c.  as  Reported  by  the  Committee 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Town  to  inspect  the  State  of 
the  Town  Treasury,  from  Time  to  Time  and  make  Report  upon 
that  and  other  Money  Matters,  now  Report,  That  Mr.  Payson  a 
late  Collector  has  paid  the  Town  Treasurer  £2  ,,  12  ,,  8  since  their 
former  Report,  and  also  the  Province  Treasurer  £107 — So  that 
there  is  still  due  to  the  Town  Treasurer  £743  ,,  15  ,,  1.  and  to  the 
Province  Treasurer  £448  ,,  4  ,,  6  lawful  Money 

Upon  a  Motion  made  Voted,  unanimously  That  the  Thanks  of 
this  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to  the  Honble.  Isaac  Barree  Esq. 
a  Member  of  Parliament  for  his  singular  Service  to  the  Town  in 
waiting  upon  our  gracious  Sovereign  in  Person,  and  presenting  to 
his  Majesty  their  humble  and  dutiful  Petition  for  the  Redress  of 
Grievances,  and  that 

The  Honble.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq. 
Mr.  Samuel  Adams 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  301 

John  Adams  Esq. 

The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq. 

Dr.  Joseph  Warren 

Richard  Dana  Esq. 

Joshua  Henshaw  Esq. 

Joseph  Jackson  Esq.  & 

Benjamin  Kent  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  respectfully  to  transmit  this  Vote  of  Thanks  to 

Coll0.  Barree  as  soon  as  may  be 

Voted,  unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  [175.]  The  Town  be 
and  hereby  are  given  to  the  Honble.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  Mod- 
erator of  this  Meeting  for  dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  and  warned  in  publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  13  Day  of 
November  Anno  Domini  1769 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     ------    read 


The  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting,  and  took  the  Oaths  respecting  his  pa}Ting  and  receiving 
Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments  as  required  by  an  Act 
of  this  Province 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  a  Collector  of  Taxes  for  the  present  Year ;  and  upon 

sorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Mr.  Benjamin  Henderson 
was  chosen  a  Collector  of  Taxes  for  the  Year  1769 


Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  4  O'Clock  P :  M : 

4.  O'Clock  Met  according  to  Adjournment 

[176.]  Mr.  Benjamin  Henderson  who  was  chosen  in  the 
Fore-No?n  a  Collector  of  Taxes,  appeared,  and  acquainted  the 
Town,  that  having  thoughts  of  removing  into  the  Country,  it 
would  not  be  convenient  for  him  to  serve  in  that  Office —  And 
therefore  desired  the  Town  would  be  pleased  to  excuse  his  serving 
—  whereupon 

Voted,  that  Mr.  Benjamin  Henderson  be  excused  from  serving 
in  the  Office  of  a  Collector  of  Taxes  to  which  he  had  been 
chosen  

The  Town  brought  in  their  Votes  for  a  Collector  of  Taxes,  and 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  thut 

Cap1.  Samuel  Dash  wood 
was  chosen  a  Collector  of  Taxes  for  the  Year  1769 

Cap'.  Samuel  Dash  wood  chosen  into  the  Office  of  a  Collector  of 
Taxes  came  into  Meeting,  and  prayed  the  Town,  that  he  might  be 
excused  from  serving  in  said  Office  —  whereupon  it  was  Voted 
that  he  be  accordingly  excused 

A  Motion  was  made  and  seconded  that  the  Town  come  into 
some  Methods  for  preventing  the  Forestalling  of  the  Market, 
which  is  a  great  and  growing  evil,  after  some  debate  had  thereon 


302  City  Docuivieist  No.  88. 

it  was  moved  and  carried,  that  the  further  Consideration  of  this 
Motion  be  referred  over  to  the  Adjournment. 

Voted,  that  the  Town  Clerk  be  directed  to  procure  Copys  of 
such  Bills  as  have  at  any  Time  been  presented  to  the  General 
Assembly  relative  to  forestalling  of  the  Market,  or  any  other 
Documents  respecting  this  practise,  to  be  laid  before  the  Town  at 
the  Adjournment  of  this  Meeting 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Fryday  the  17  of 
this  Instant  10  O'Clock.  Before-Noon 

[177.]  Fryday  November  17.  10.  O'Clock  A  :  M  :  Town  met 
according  to  Adjournment 

The  Meeting  being  thin  and  the  Weather  very  Cold,  it  was 
Voted,  that  the  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  the  Selectmens  Cham- 
ber  

The  Town  taking  into  Consideration  the  great  loss  the  Inhabi- 
tants sustain  by  means  of  the  pernitious  practise  of  forestalling 
the  Market,  which  is  a  growing  Evil,  and  as  detrimental  to  the 
Interest  of  the  Landholder  or  Farmer  as  it  is  to  the  People  of  this 
Metropolis 

Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are 
appointed  a  Committee  to  take  this  Matter  into  Consideration,  and 
to  consult  the  best  methods  that  may  be  taken  to  obtain  at  the 
next  Session  of  the  Great  and  General  Assembly  of  this  Province, 
such  an  Act  as  may  be  effectual  to  remedie  the  Evil  complained 
of,  and  also  to  prevent  the  Incumbrances  in  the  Streets  near 
Market  Square,  by  means  of  the  Country  People  placing  their 
Horses  and  Carts  in  said  Street  instead  of  bringing  them  with 
their  Provisions  into  the  Market  Enclosures 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Fryday  next  being 
the  24  Instant.  10.  O'Clock  Before-Noon 

Fryday  November  24  10.  O'Clock  —  Before  Noon  Town  met  ac- 
cording to  Adjournment 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting     The  IIonble.  James  Otis  Esq.  for 

dispatching  the  Business  thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[178.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  of 
the  Town  of  Boston  legally  qualified  &  warned  in  publick  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Fryday  the  8  Day  of 
December  Anno  Domini  1760 


Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  -  -  -  -  read 


Joshua  Kenshaw  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this  Meeting, 
and  took  the  Oaths  respecting  his  paying  and  receiving  Bills  of 
Credit  of  the  Governments  of  Connecticut,  New  Hampshire  and 
Rhode  Island,  as  required  by  an  Act  of  this  Province 

The  Petition  of  Mr.  Hugh  Mc.  Daniel,  "  setting  forth  that  he  is 
now  a  Prisioner  in  his  Majestys  Goal  for  Non  Payment  of  his  Taxes 
for  17G6  &  1767.  amounting  in  the  whole  to  £22  ,,  12  ,,  3  as  well  as 
for  other  Suits  ;  and  praying  such  relief  as  to  the  Town  may  seem 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  303 

meet" — was  read,  and  after  considerable  debate  had  thereon  — 
a  Motion  was  made,  that  the  said  Petitioner  might  have  leave  to 

withdraw  his  Petition 

Mr.  Benjamin  Henderson 

was  chosen  a  Collector  of  Taxes  for  the  Year  17G9 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday   December  13.  4.  O'Clock  P:  M; 

December  13.  4.  O'Clock  P:M:Met  according  to  Adjourn- 
ment   

[179.]  Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are 
given  to  Joshua  Henshaw  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for  dis- 
patching the  Business   thereof 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


The  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  vindicate  the  Town 
of  Boston  from  the  many  false  and  malicious  Aspersions  contained 
in  certain  Letters  and  Memorials,  written  by  Governor  Bernard, 
General  Gage,  Commodore  Hood,  the  Commissioners  of  the  Ameri- 
can Board  of  Customs,  and  others,  and  by  them  respectively 
transmitted  to  the  British  Ministry,  which  was  laid  before  the  Town 
and  accepted,  at  a  General  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  Inhab- 
itants, the  18.  of  October  last,  is  as  follows,  —  Viz1. 

The  Town  of  Boston  having  by  the  generous  care  of  William 
Bollan  Esq.  formerly  a  very  worthy  Inhabitant  in  it,  but  now  a 
Resident  in  London,  received  authentick  copies  of  Letters  Memo- 
rials &°.  written  by  Governor  Bernard,  General  Gage,  Commodoi'e 
Hood,  the  Commissioners  of  the  American  Board  of  Customs,  and 
others,  and  laid  before  the  Parliament ;  which  contain  many  base  in- 
sinuations and  virulent  charges  of  an  high  nature  against  the  Town  : 
The  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  in  a  legal  Town  Meeting  assem- 
bled for  the  purpose,  have  considered  the  same.  As  they  have  not 
3-et  been  favoured  with  the  particular  vouchers :  if  indeed  these 
Gentlemen  have  produced  any  to  the  Ministry  [180.]  Before  whom 
they  laid  their  accusations,  it  cannot  be  expected  they  should  be 
enabled  to  make  so  full  a  vindication  of  the  Town  as  otherwise 
they  might :  Thej  have  however  endeavoured  to  extract  from  those 
writings,  so  far  as  the  Town  is  concerned  in  ihein,  and  to  lay  be- 
fore the  publick  their  true  spirit :  From  whence  it  will  appear  how 
restless,  Governor  Bernard  &  his  Associates  have  been  in  their 
malicious  intrigues  to  traduce  not  this  Town  and  Province,  alone, 
but  the  whole  British  American  Contineut. 

In  his  Letter  to  the  Earl  of  Shelburne,  dated  March  19.  17G8  he 
tells  his  Lordship  that  "  he  sees  such  an  opposition  to  the  Com- 
missioners and  their  Officers,  and  such  a  defyance  to  the  Au;hority 
by  which  they  are  appointed,  continually  growing,  that  he  can  no 
longer  excuse  bis  informing  his  Lordship  of  the  detail  of  facts, 
from  whence  the  most  dangerous  consequences  are  to  be  expected  " 
—  It  is  observable  here,  how  artfully  he  connects  an  opposition  to 
the  Commissioners  with  a  defiance  of  the  authority  b}r  which  they 
are  appointed  ;  and  this  with  an  apparent  design  to  represent  this 
Town  as  disaffected  lo  his  Majestys  Government  in  general,  than 


304  City  Document  No.  88. 

which  nothing  can  be  more  false  and  malicious.  That  the  People 
should  entertain  the  highest  disgust  of  a  Board,  instituted  to 
superintend  a  Revenue  to  be  raised  from  them  without  their  con- 
sent, which  was  and  still  is  exacted  with  the  utmost  rigor,  is 
natural ;  after  they  had  so  loudly  as  well  as  Justly  complained  of 
the  Revenue  itself,  as  depriving  them  of  the  very  idea  of  liberty : 
But  it  cannot  be  said  with  the  least  appearance  of  truth  that  they 
set  at  defiance  the  Kings  authority,  at  the  very  time  when  they 
were  actually  yielding  obedience  to  those  Revenue  laws,  under  all 
the  hardships  of  them,  and  were  patiently  waiting  for  the  happy 
issue  of  their  Just  complaints,  and  their  humble  petitions  to  their 
Sovereign  for  the  redress  of  their  Grievances  —  The  Commissioners 
had  however  at  that  time  surely  no  reasonable  grounds  to  expect 
any  injuiy  to  their  Persons  or  interruption  in  their  Office  ;  for  they 
had  been  more  than  four  months  in  the  Town,  without  the  least 
danger  of  this  kind,  although  they  had  from  their  first  arrival  dis- 
covered [181.]  Such  an  arrogance  an  insolence  of  Office  as  let 
many  Persons  to  apprehend  that  they  aimed  at  nothing  less  than 
provoking  the  People  to  such  a  degree  of  intemperance  as  to  make 
an  appearance  of  it.  But  being  disappointed  in  this,  more  shifts 
&  pretensions  are  to  be  sought  after ;  and  accordingly  we  find  Mr. 
Bernard  begining  his  detail :  to  his  Lordship  with  telling  him 
there  had  been  "frequent  reports  of  insurrections  intended,  in 
which  it  had  been  said,  the  Houses  of  one  or  more  of  the  Com- 
missioners were  to  be  pulled  down"  The  Governor  it  is  to  be 
observed  relies  much  upon  Reports  in  his  Letters  even  to  Ministers 
of  State,  while  few  if  any  among  us  ever,  heard  of  such  Reports  : 
He  does  not  so  much  as  attempt  to  make  it  appear  to  his  Lordship 
that  these  frequent  Reports  were  brought  to  him  by  Persons  of 
credit,  or  that  they  were  well  grounded  ;  and  it  is  very  much  to  be 
questioned,  whether  he  received  his  intelligence  from  any  other 
Persons  than  the  Commissioners  themselves,  their  Dependents  & 
Expectents,  the  number  of  whom  are  increased  to  an  enormous 
degree,  more  than  sufficient  to  devour  the  whole  Revenue,  and 
many  of  them  are  of  the  most  abandoned  characters.  But  to  give 
a  colouring  to  these  Ideas  of  an  Insurrection,  there  must  be  some- 
thing more  alledged  than  barely  that  there  had  been  frequent  Re- 
ports of  its  being  intended  ;  and  therefore  his  Lordship  is  told  of 
an  event  which  in  fact  took  place  as  some  few  remember,  but  the 
story  is  wrought  up  by  the  Governor  with  all  the  strokes  of 
masterly  invention  to  serve  the  purpose  "  A  number  of  Lads  says 
he  peraded  the  Town  with  a  Drum  and  Horn"  And  what  possible 
harm  could  there  be  in  that?  Why  among  other  Houses,  "they 
passed  by  the  Council  Chamber  when  he  was  Sitting  in  Council " 
And  did  they  stop  to  insult  the  Governor  and  Council?  Such  a 
circumstance  would  doubtless  have  embellished  his  Excellencies 
Narrative.  There  passing  by  however  carried  the  air  of  an  insult, 
tho'  in  all  likelihood  the  unlucky  Boys  might  not  know  that  his 
Excellency  was  there  —  But  they  had  "  assembled  before  Mr.  Pax- 
tons  House"  and  least  it  should  be  forgot  his  Lordship  is  reminded 
that  Mr.  Paxton  is  a  "  Commissioner  " — And  did  they  do  Mr.  Pax- 
ton  the   Commissioner  any  injury,  yess  truly  "  they  buzzard  "  & 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  305 

went  off  then  they  "  invested  Mr.  Burchs  House  "  And  his  Lordship 
is  also  told  [182.]  That  Mr.  Burch  is  "  another  Commissioner" 
—  and  "his  Lad}'  &  Children  were  obliged  to  go  out  of  the  back 
door  to  avoid  the  danger  that  was  threatued  "  So  that  they  were 
not  threatned  with  mischief,  but  with  danger  only.  It  has  been 
usual  for  the  Commissioners  to  affect  an  apprehension  of  danger 
to  themselves  and  their  Families,  to  serve  the  purposes  they  had 
in  view.  There  is  indeed  no  accounting  for  the  real  fears  of 
AVomen  and  Children  :  The  Ladys  however  can  sometimes  vie  with 
their  Husbands  in  intrigue,  and  are  thoroughly  versed  in  the  art 
even  of  political  appearance.  And  it  is  said  that  all  are  Politicians 
in  this  Country:  Whether  this  Lady  whom  Governor  Bernard  has 
politely  ushered  into  the  view  of  the  public,  really  thought  herself 
in  danger  or  not,  it  is  incumbent  on  him  to  show  that  there  were 
Just  grounds  for  her  apprehensions,  that  Mr.  Burch's  House  was  in 
fact  •'  invested"  and  that  "  the  most  dangerous  consequences  were 
to  be  expected "'  The  World  may  be  assured  there  was  not  the 
Last  appearance  of  this  kind  ;  and  yet,  these  are  Mr.  Bernards  own 
declarations  to  his  Majesty s  Ministers,  grounded  upon  vague  and 
idle  Reports,  beneath  one  of  his  rank  and  station  to  take  any 
notice  of,  and  especially  with  a  design  to  misrepresent.  He 
expresses  a  surprize  and  surely  he  must  counterfeit  it,  that  this 
matter  of  "  the  parade  with  the  Drum  and  Horn  "  was  after  all 
treated  as  the  diversion  of  a  few  Boys,  as  it  is  still  thought  to 
have  been  by  all  who  can  remember  so  triffling  an  occurrance,  ex- 
cept the  Governor  and  his  Adherents  —  the  diversion  of  a  few 
innocent,  tho'  pertros  vulgar  Boys,  who  neither  did  nor  intended 
to  do  the  least  harm  to  them  or  any  other  persons,  nor  were  they 
able  to  effect  it  if  they  had  such  a  design.  But  after  this  says  Mr. 
Bernard  "  it  was  reported  that  the  insurrection  was  postponed  till 
the  18th.  of  March"  the  idea  is  still  kept  up  of  a  designed  insurrec- 
tion, how  else  could  it  be  postponed  and  "  two  Persons  says  he, 
one  of  them  Mr.  Paxton  a  Commissioner  wets  mentioned  as  devoted 
to  the  resentment  of  a  Mob  "  It  is  strange  no  Person  should 
have  heard  of  all  this  but  the  Governor  and  his  Informers  for  he 
tells  his  Lordship  that  ';  he  took  all  the  pains  he  could  to  discover 
the  truth  of  this  Report ;  "  and  "  on  the  very  day  before  he  spoke 
with  [183. J  The  most  knowing  Men  he  could  procure,"  who  had 
heard  nothing  about  the  matter.  At  length  however  "  late  in  the 
Evening  he  had  certain  advice  that  the  Effigies  were  prepared,  but 
it  was  too  late  to  do  any  thing,  &  his  information  was  of  that 
nature,  he  could  not  make  use  of  it  m public"  To  induce  his 
Lordship  however  to  believe  that  the  Reports  of  (he  Insurrection 
which  was  postponed  to  the  18  of  March,  with  every  circumstance 
as  Just  now  related,  were  well  grounded,  he  tells  him  as  if  it  was 
designed  to  be  the  prelude  to  the  whole,  that  "  early  in  the  Morn- 
ing the  Sheriff  inform,  d  him  that  the  Effigies  of  Mr.  Paxton  and 
Mr.  Williams  were  in  truth  hanging  upon  Liberty  Tree  !  "  There 
was  in  the  time  of  it  a  st.ong  stis^ieian  in  the  minds  of  many  that 
tbeir  Effigies  were  hung  up  by  some  particular  persons  on  that  day 
(which  was  to  be  observed  as  a  day  of  festivity)  with  a  design  to 
give  a  colouring  to  Just  such  a  representation  as  Governor  Bernard 


306  City  Document  No.  88. 

now  makes.  There  are  persons  hore  capable  of  playing  such  a 
game  ;  and  there  are  some  circumstances  which  make  it  appear 
that  such  a  suspician  was  not  groundless  Particularly  it  is  difficult 
to  account  for  Governor  Bernards  neglecting  to  give  orders  to  pie- 
vent  their  being  hung  up  after  he  certainly  knew  it  was  intended  ; 
and  that  he  should  pretend-it  was  too  late  the  Evening  before  ;  l>ut 
especially  his  not  chusing  to  make  use  of  his  information,  or  it 
may  rather  be  supposed  his  Informants  name  in  public,  unless  it 
was  thro' fear  of  discovering  the  plot,  is  dark  and  unaccountable  — 
if  there  was  a  design  of  this  nature  it  must  have  been  truly 
mortifying  to  those  who  were  in  the  street,  that  the  design  was  so 
soon  frustrated  ;  For  before  the  Governor  could  meet  his  Council, 
which  he  had  prudently  "  the  d:iy  before  summoned  to  meet  "  and 
while  he  was  "  sending  round  to  get  them  together  as  soon  as 
possible  it  might  be ;  amidst  all  these  careful  preparations,  the 
Effigies  says  the  Governor  "were  taken  down  by  some  of  the 
Neighbours  without  opposition  "  !  There  being  thus,  perhaps  unex- 
pectedly, taken  down,  is  sufficient  to  evence  the  good  disposition 
of  the  Inhabitants  in  general :  That  they  were  not  in  the  plan  of 
an  insurrection,  whoever  else  might  6e,  and  that  the  Governor  there- 
fore might  with  safety,  if  he  had  been  so  inclined  make  use  of  his 
information  in  public  —  It  might  possibly  indeed  have  totally 
overthrown  his  design  in  writing  this  very  Letter  to  his  Lordship. 
—  [184.]  But  the  best  improvement  is  to  be  made  of  every 
appearance:  Accordingly  the  Governor  hastens  to  his  Council, 
who  were  then  met  agreable  to  his  appointment  the  I -ay  before, 
and  there  he  tells  his  Lordship  he  "  set  forth  in  strong  terms  the 
atrociousness  of  this  insult ;  the  danger  of  its  being  followed  by 
actual  violence,  and  the  necessity  there  was  of  providing  for  the 
peace  of  the  Town"  However  attrocious  the  insult  might  be, 
where  could  be  the  danger  of  its  being  followed  with  actual 
violence,  when  some  of  the  Inhabitants  themselves  had  taken 
down  the  Effigies,  with  at  least  the  tacit  consent  of  the  whole 
Community ;  for  it  was  done  without  the  opposition  expected, 
perhaps  hoped  for;  And  what  necessity  of  providing  for  the  peace 
of  the  Town,  when  the  people  already  discovered  so  peaceable  a 
disposition.  It  would  doubtless  have  pleased  the  Governor  well, 
if  his  Council  had  advised  to  some  severe  measures  ;  such  as  might 
have  afforded  a  former  foundation  for  him  to  have  represented  th^ 
Town  upon  the  eve  of  an  insurrection,  than  groundless  reports  and 
informations,  frorn  his  own  pimps  which  it  was  not  prudent  for  him 
to  make  use  of  in  public.  But  "  all  he  could  say"  to  that  purpose 
tho'  he  strove  hard  for  it  "  made  no  impression  on  the  Council  " 
They  say  he  "  persevered  in  treating  the  affair  as  of  no  conse- 
quence," as  well  they  might ;  for  its  questionable  after  all,  whether 
there  was  the  least  apprehension  then  of  any  communication  even 
in  the  mind  of  the  Governor  himself  whatever  was  his  pretensions. 
The  Commissioners  however  took  this  opportunity  of  "setting 
forth  the  danger  they  apprehended  ; "  and  the  Governor,  very 
readily  no  doubt,  took  the  occasion  to  acquaint  the  Kings  Minister, 
that  he  had  received  a  Letter  from  the  Commissioners  "  desiring 
the  protection  of  the  Government." 


Boston  Town  Records,  1709.  307 

Mr.  Bernard  proceeds  in  his  Narrative,  and  entertains  his 
Lordship  with  a  very  minute  account  of  the  celebration  of  the 
Anniversary  of  the  repeal  of  the  Stump  Act;  and  "  the  terrible 
night  it  produced"  — to  Mr.  Burch  one  of  the  Commissioners  and 
his  Lady  &  Children  who  had  moved  to  his  House  for  safety  ;  "  to 
the  Luivetenant  Governor  and  the  Sheriff  of  the  County  who  were 
also  with  him"  [185.]  And  in  fine  to  all  "those  who  thought 
themselves  Objects  of  the  popular  Fury."  It  may  be  here  ob- 
served as  in  general  true,  that  no  Man  has  reason  to  fear  the 
popular  fury,  but  he  who  is  conscious  to  himself  of  having  done 
that  which  has  exposed  him  to  their  Just  resentment  —  The  Gov- 
ernor himself  owns  that  "  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  "  and  '*  some 
others  "  and  even  the  Gentlemen  who  dined  at  two  Taverns  near 
the  Townhouse  upon  the  occasion  of  the  day  "  took  great  pains 
that  the  festivity  should  not  produce  a  Riot."  There  is  no  reason 
to  suppose  this  was  mentioned  for  the  sake  of  giving  a  credit  to 
any  of  those  Gentlemen,  but  rather  to  insinuate  that  the  People 
were  so  outrageously  disposed  as  that  they  could  not  be  restrained 
even  by  their  own  Leaders;  for  most  of  those  whom  the  Governor 
has  honoured  with  that  character  were  present.  The  truth  is  none 
of  them  were  apprehensive  that  their  festivity  would  produce  a 
riot ;  but  they  were  careful  to  prevent  the  lighting  a  Bouflre, 
because  the  Governor  had  constantly  represented  that  as  "  the 
signal  for  a  Mob  ;  "  and  the  Joys  of  the  Evening  among  the  lower 
sort  which  however  innocent  are  sometimes  noisy,  would  of  course 
be  represented  as  riotous.  And  thus  he  did  in  fact  represent  it  to 
his  Lordship  for  he  tells  him  that  "  many  hundreds  of  People  of 
all  kinds  sexes  and  ages,  paraded  the  streets  with  yells  and  out- 
crys  "  —  That  they  "  invested  Mr.  Williams  House  "  —  That  "  at 
two  different  times  about  midnight  tliey  made  outcrys  about  Mr. 
Paxtons  house."  And  tho'  after  all  he  owns  it  was  '*  out  of  mere 
wantonness "  yet  he  says  the  whole  made  it  a  terrible  night." 
This  is  painting  indeed,  much  beyond  the  life :  But  Mr.  Bernard 
has  the  art  in  perfection.  He  could  not  however  perswade  even 
General  Gage,  to  give  it  such  a  colouring ;  for  the  General  in  his 
letter  to  Lord  Hillsborough  dated  Boston  the  31st.  of  October 
17G*.  tells  his  Lordship  quite  otherwise;  and  that  "according  to 
the  best  information  he  had  been  able  to  procure,  the  disturbance 
in  March  (which  was  this  very  instance)  far  from  being  "  terrible 
as  the  Governor  represents  it,  was  in  truth  "  triffiing."  This  being 
the  account  given  by  one  of  the  principal  servants  of  the  Crown 
in  America,  and  who  has  discovered  himself  far  from  being  par- 
tial inftvor  of  the  Town,  it  is  needless  to  add  any  thing  further 
on  this  head  —  Triffiing  as  indeed  this  "  disturbance  "  was,  such 
improvements  were  made  of  it  by  Governor  Bernard  &  others, 
that  it  occasioned  the  ordering  two  Regiments  from  Hallifax  to 
this  Town  for  a  purpose  for  which  the  military  power  was  certainly 
never  designed;  [186.]  A  very  dangerous  purpose,  and  abhor- 
rent to  the  British  Constitution  and  the  spirit  of  a  free  Govern- 
ment, namely  to  support  the  Civil  Authority  — A  measure  which 
has  caused  continual  terror  to  his  Majestys  peaceable  subjects 
here,  and  has  been  productive  of  more  disturbance  &  confusion 


308  City  Document  No.  88. 

than  has  been  known  in  the  memory  of  any  now  living,  or  than  is 
recorded  by   any  historian,  even   the  most  partial    against   this 

country. 

We  shall  now  take  notice  of  Governor  Bernards  Letter  to  the 
Earl  of  Hillsborough,  dated  Boston  June  1 1  17G8,  wherein  he  gives 
his  Lordship  an  account  "of  a   great  riot  that  happened  in  this 
Town  the  preceeding  Evening."     and  it  must  he  confessed  there 
was  a  riot  on  that  evening,  which  is  hy  no  means  to  he  Justified. 
It  was  however  far  from  being  so  great  a  one  as  the  Governor 
represents  it  to  be — The  Collector  and  Comptroller  of  the  Cus- 
toms indeed  represent  it  as  a  "numerous  Mob"  but  they  heing 
particularly  interested,  their  fears  might  deceive  them. —  It  was 
not  a  numerous  Mob ;  nor  was  it  of  long  continuance,  neither  was 
there  much  mischief  done.    It  was  occasioned  by  the  unprecedented 
&  lawful  mnnner  of  seizing  the  Vessel  by  the  Collector  and  Comp- 
troler:  And  considering   their  illegal  proceedings  in  making  the 
seizure,    attended   with   the  most  irritating  circumstances    which 
occasioned  the  Mob  —  the  intolerably  haughty  behavior  which  the 
Commissioners  who   ordered  this  seizure,  had  constantly  before 
discovered  toward  the    people  —  the  frequent  threats  which  had 
been  given  out,  that  the  Town  should  be  put  under  a  military  gov- 
ernment, and  the  armed  force  actually  imployed  as  a  prelude  to  it, 
it  cannot  be   wonder'd  at,   that  in  a  populous  Town,  such  high 
provocations,  and  the  sudden  exertion  of   lawful  power,  should 
excite  the  resentments  of   some  persons  beyond   the   bounds   of- 
reason,  and  carry  them  into  excess. —  We  cannot  state  the  circum- 
stances of  this  affair  with  greater  impartiality,  than  by  reciting 
the  Sentiments  of  his  Majestys  Council  after  two  days  enquiry  and 
consideration,  in  their  own  expressions  Viz1.  —  "His  Excellency 
having  laid  before  the  Board  a  representation  of  some  transactions 
relating  to  and  in  consequence  of  the  disorders  in  the  town  of 
Bostown  on  the  evening  of  the  10  of  June  last,  the  Board  [187.] 
The  Board  think  it  necessary  in  Justice  to  the  Town  and  Province, 
and  in  vindication   of   themselves    to   make   some   observations 
thereon,  and  -to  give  a  fuller  Representation  than  is  contained  in 
the  paper  laid  before  the  Board.     "  With  regard  to  the  said  dis- 
orders it  is  to  be  observed  that  they  were  occasioned  by  the  mak- 
ing a  seizure  (in  a  manner  unprecedented)  in  the  Town  of  Boston 
on  the  said  tenth  of  June,  a  little  before  Sunset  when  a  Vessel  was 
seized  by  several  of  the  Officers  of  the  Customs  ;  and  immediately 
after  on  "a  signal  given  by  one  of  said  Officers,  in  consequence  of  a 
preconcerted  plan,  several  armed  Boats  from  the  Romney  Man  of 
War  took  possession  of  her,  cut  her  fasts  and  carried  her  from  the 
Wharff  where  she  lay  into  the  Harbour,  along  side  the  Romney 
which  occasioned   a  number  of   people  to  be  collected,  some  of 
whom  from  the  violence  &  unprecidentedness  of  the    proceedure 
with  regard  to  the  taking  away  of  the  said  Vessel,  &  the  reflec- 
tion thereby  implyed  upon  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  as  disposed 
to  rescue  any  seizure  that  might  be  made,  took  occasion  to  abuse 
&  insult  the  said  Officers,  and  afterwards  to  break  some  of   the 
windows  of  their  dwelling  houses,  and  to  commit  other  disorders. 
Now  tho'  the  Board  have  the  utmost  abhorrence  of  all  such  disor- 


Boston  Town  Eecoeds,  17G9.  309 

clerly  proceedings,  and  would  by  no  means  attempt  to  Justify 
them,  they  are  obliged  to  mention  the  occasion  of  them,  in  order 
to  shew,  that  however  culpable  the  said  disorderly  persons  were, 
the  Officers  who  seized,  or  those  by  whose  orders  such  unusual  & 
violent  measures  as  were  pursued  in  seizing  and  taking  away  the 
said  vessel,  were  not  faultless :  It  being  highly  probable  that  no 
such  disorders  would  have  been  committed  if  the  vessel  had  not 
been  with  an  armed  force,  and  with  many  circumstances  of  insult 
and  threats,  carried  away  from  the  wharff." 

The  Council  further  say,  "  with  regard  to  what  happened  on  the 
10  of  June  it  seems  to  have  sprung  wholly  from  the  persons  who 
complain  of  it,  by  the  plan  laid  and  the  orders  given  for  making 
the  Seizure  aforesaid ;  and  carrying  it  away  by  an  armed  force. 
"Which  circumstances  together  with  the  time  of  day  of  seizing  the 
Vessel,  makes  it  seem  probable  that  an  uproar  was  hoped  for  and 
intended  to  be  occasioned  by  the  manner  of  proceedure  in  making 
the  seizure." 

From  this  impartial  state  of  the  matter,  it  must  [J 88.]  Evi- 
dently appear  to  every  candid  mind,  that  the  opposition  was  made, 
not  at  all  to  the  seizing  of  the  Vessel  by  the  Officers  of  the  Cus- 
toms but  wholly  to  the  manner  in  which  it  was  secured ;  and  that 
if  it  had  been  done  in  the  usual  manner  as  the  Council  afterwards 
said,  "  it  would  have  remained  secure  in  the  hands  of  the  Officers" 
—  this  corresponds  with  the  Commissioners  own  account;  for  they 
sa}T  in  their  letter  to  Governor  Bernard,  June  12  that  they  received 
a  verbal  message  from  the  people  to  the  following  purpose,  "  that 
if  the  Sloop  seized  was  brought  back  to  Mr.  Hancocks  Wharff, 
upon  security  given  to  answer  the  prosecution,  the  Town  might  be 
kept  quiet."  But  this  pacifick  proposal  though  brought  to  them  as 
they  acknowledge  "  by  a  person  of  credit,"  they  expressly  declare 
"appeared  to  them  as  a  menace,"  and  it  was  in  fact  one  of  their  very 
reasons  for  requesting  the  Governor  to  give  directions  that  the}*- 
might  be  received  into  the  Castle  for  protection  —  So  totally 
regardless  were  they  of  the  peace  of  the  Town,  and  so  excessively 
loud  of  being  thought  by  others  as  important  as  they  fancied 
themselves  to  be,  tliat  when  this  reasonable  and  timely  proposal 
was  brought  to  them  even  by  a  pei*son  of  Credit  in  their  own 
esteem,  they  haughtily  reply'd  "  that  they  gave  no  answers  to 
verbal  messages  "  which  plainly  indicated  either  a  wantonness  of 
power  in  them  beyond  all  bounds,  or  the  hopes  if  not  the  intention 
of  a  further  uproar. 

Governor  Bernard  tells  his  Lordship  that  this  Riot  "had  very 
bad  consequences,"  whk-h  is  undoubtedly  true  :  The  exaggerated 
accounts  which  he  and  the  Commissioners  gave  of  it  to  the  Min- 
istry, and  their  taking  occasion  to  represent  the  Town  itself  as  in 
a  state  of  disobedience  to  all  law  and  authority,  and  indeed  the 
whole  Continent  as  ripe  of  a  revolt,  were  attended  with  the  worst 
of  consequences  to  the  Town.  The  Commissioners  say  in  plain 
terms  that"  there  had  been  a  long  and  extensive  plan  of  resistance 
to  the  authority  of  Great  Britain"  and  that  "the  Seizure  referred 
to"  had  hastened  the  people  of  Boston  to  the  commission  of 
actual   violence    sooner   than   was  intended."      Such    uillamatoiy 


310  City  Document  No.  88. 

representations  as  those  had  the  effects  which  they  had  long  wished 
for  ;  and  induced  the  Ministry  to  order  two  other  Regiments  to  this 
Town  ;  the  consequence  of  which  if  they  or  any  [180.]  Of  them 
are  continued,  it  is  to  be  feared,  far  from  reconciling  the  people  to 
the  present  measures  of  Administration,  will  only  increase  their 

discontent,  and  even  alienate  their  Affections. 

The  Governor  in  the  Postscript  to  his  Letter  June  13  mentions 
his  having  intelligence  from  the  Commissioners  of  some  pa iticulurs 
from  whence  they  concluded,  that  they  were  immediately  exposed 
to  further  violences,  and  desired  protection  at  the  Castle  —  This 
intelligence  is  contained  in  their  letter  of  June  12  Just  now 
mentioned,  wherein  they  take  upon  themselves  to  charge  the  Gov- 
ernment with  having  used  no  measures  for  securing  the  peace  of  the 
Town,  alledging  in  general  terms  that  "  there  was  the  strongest 
reason  to  expect  further  violences,"  and  they  further  say,  that  "  his 
Excellency  himself  had  acquainted  them  that  Bo- ton  was  no  place 
of  safety  for  them."  Here  we  see  that  the  intelligence  which  the 
Governor  represents  to  his  Lordship  as  having  been  received  by  him 
from  the  Commissioners,  he  first  communicated  to  them ;  and  there- 
upon they  grounded  their  pretended  fears  in  their  Letter  to  him,  and 
desire  the  protection  of  the  Government.  This  is  all  of  a  peace, 
and  may  serve  to  explain  the  frequent  rumors  of  an  insurrection, 
mentioned  in  a  formerletter,  and  from  what  quarter  these  frequent 
rumours  came.  It  shows  the  Combination,  and  the  settled  design, 
of  the  Governor  and  the  Commissioners  to  blacken  the  character 
of  the  Town  ;  and  how  dexterously  they  can  play  into  each  other 
hands — The  Governor  the  next  Day  June  13  wrote  to  the  Com- 
missioners, and  acquainted  them,  that  having  communicated  their 
Letter  of  the  twelfth  to  the  Council,  they  desired  him  to  inform 
them  that  during  the  sitting  of  the  Council  on  Sattu relay  Morning, 
there  was  no  reason  at  all  given  to  expect  further  violences,  and 
that  there  was  no  apprehension  either  in  the  Governor  or  the 
Council  of  an  immediate  danger."  It  is  incumbent  on  the  Gov- 
ernor or  his  friend  if  he  has  any,  to  reconcile  this  with  what  he 
hael  before  told  the  Commissioners  k '  that  Boston  was  no  place  of 
safety  for  them."  It  seems  Governor  Bernard  was  perpetually 
teizing  the  Council  with  the  Commissioners  vague  reports  of  an 
insurrection,  and  of  the  danger  they  were  in ;  ancl  indeed  it 
appears  to  be  the  main  point  in  view  to  perswade  the  Council  if 
possible  into  the  belief  of  it,  or  if  not, .to  form  a  complaint  to  the 
Ministry  that  they  were  negligent  of  their  duty  in  not  advising  to 
proper  measures  for  the  [190.]  Protection  of  the  Commissioners  ; 
and  from  thence  to  enforce  a  necessity  of  military  force  to  restore 
and  support  Government  in  Boston  — Why  did  he  not  lay  before 
the  Governor  the  particulars  which  he  tells  his  Lordship  he  had 
received  from  the  Commissioners,  from  whence  they  concluded 
that  they  were  exposed  to  further  violences?  This  we  hear  nothing 
of ;  perhaps  the  intelligence,  like  that  which  he  mentions  in  a 
former  Letter  "  was  of  such  a  nature  as  that  he  could  not  make 
use  of  it  in  publick."  He  indeed  tells  the  Commissioners  that  he 
had  informed  the  Council  of  their  present  apprehensions  of  further 
violences,  and  that  they  were  then  taking  the  same  into  consider- 


Boston  Town  Records,  17G9.  311 

ation.  "  — But  he  should  have  fairly  represented  this  matter  to  the 
Commissioners,  and  told  them  that  the  Council  had  already  taken 
the  same  into  consideration,  and  come  to  a  conclusion  as  in  l'act 
they  had;  for  by  their  own  minutes  we  find  that  "the  matter 
being  fully  debated  it  appeared  to  the  Board,  that  there  was  no 
immediate  danger  of  fresh  disturbances"  they  at  the  same  time 
advised  that  the  matter  should  be  laid  before  the  General  Court 
then  silting,  and  postponed  the  consideration  of  it  by  them  as  of 
Council  to  the  Gocernor,  till  the  effect  of  such  a  proposal  should  be 
known.  All  this  the  Governor  knew  ;  how  then  could  he  consist- 
ently say  they  were  then  taking  into  consideration  ?  He  tells  Lord 
Hillsburrongh  that  "  he  was  against  the  business  being  laid  before 
the  General  Court  but  was  obliged  to  give  it  up"  ;  and  that  '-he 
had  many  objections  to  the  measure,"  We  knew  very  well  that 
the  drawing  this  matter  into  open  daylight,  would  effectually  defeat 
his  design ;  and  that  the  intention  of  bringing  the  Council,  if 
possible  to  Join  with  the  Governor  in  requiring  the  military  force, 
or  accusing  them  of  negligence  in  case  they  did  not,  would  thereby 
be  intirely  frustrated  — The  removing  the  business  to  the  General 
Court,  he  tells  his  Lordship  was  however,  upon  one  consideration 
not  "  intirely  to  his  dissatisfaction"  for  he  says  it  was  not  then  in 
a  great  measure  "  taken  out  of  his  hands  "  ;  and  he  concludes  that 
"  as  he  cannot  conduct  this  business  as  it  ought  to  be,  "  or  rather 
as  he  chose  it  should  be,  "it  may  be  best  for  him  to  have  but 
little  baud  in  it."  —  It  may  not  be  amiss  here  to  recite  the  declar- 
ation of  his  Majesty s  Council  at  a  full  Board  on  the  29th.  of  July, 
six  Weeks  after  the  Commissioners  voluntary  exile  to  the  Castle  in 
consequence  of  these  pretended  apprehensions  of  [191.]  Further 
violences.  The  Council  say  "  the  Commissioners  were  not  obliged 
to  quit  the  Town  ;  there  never  had  been  any  insult  ever  offered  to 
them  ;  their  quitting  the  Town  was  a  voluntary  act  of  their  own  ; 
we  do  not  apprehend  there  was  any  sufficient  ground  for  their 
quitting  it,  and  when  they  had  quitted  it,  and  were  at  the  Castle, 
there  was  no  occasion  for  Men  of  War  to  protect  them."  Such  an 
authority  will  no  doubt  be  deemed  sufficient  to  vindicate  the  Town 
from  this  aspersion  ;  especially  as  the  Council  had  then  had  ti;;;e 
cooly  to  recollect  the  matter :  As  they  had  born  their  full  testi- 
mony against  the  disorders,  and  taken  every  step  which  belonged 
to  their  department,  to  bring  the  Offenders  to  condign  punishment : 
But  more  especially  as  that  very  Board  had  always  before  .Sup- 
ported the  Governors  measures  to  the  utmost  extent  that  their 
consciences  would  allow,  and  many  times  against  the  generc.l 
sentiments  of  the  people,  for  which  they  had  gained  the  Governors 
applause,  and  his  particular  recommendation  to  his  Majestvs 
Minister,  and  he  himself  could  at  this  time  have  no  other  exception 
to  any  part  of  their  conduct,  but  their  opposition  to  his  favorite 
plan  to  introduce  a  military  Government  into  the  Town,  without 
the  least  colour  of  necessit}',  and  thereby  to  break  through  the 
mounds,  and  tear  up  the  very  foundation  of  the  civil  consti- 
tution.   

The  Governor  in  his  Letter  to  Lord  Hillsburrough  of  the  14th 
June  being  resolved  to  give  his  Lordship  an  exact  detail  of  every 


312  City  Document  No.  88. 

occurrance  "from  whence  the  most  dangerous  consequences  are  to 
be  expected,"  take  occasion  to  mention,  "  a  paper  stuck  up  on 
Liberty  Tree"  this  paper  he  has  said  in  bis  letter  of  the  13  con- 
tained "  an  invitation  of  the  Sons  of  liberty  to  meet  at  six  O'Clock 
to  clear  the  land  of  the  vermin  which  were  come  to  devour  them" 
A  very  innocent  if  not  a  laudable  proposal,  for  which  the  Country 
should  think  itself  obliged  to  them,  to  be  sure  if  they  could  have 
effected  their  design.     But  in  this  letter  it  is  called  "  a  violent  and 
virulent  invitation  to  rise  that  night  to  clear  the  Country  of  the 
Commissioners  and  their  Officers  to  avenge  themselves  of  the  Cus- 
tom house  Officers,  and  put  one  of  them  to  death  !  "     And  still 
more  alarming,  "  there  were  also  some  indecent  threats  against 
the  Governor!"     Could  the   Governor  think  that  by  the  Vermin 
that  were  come  to  devour  the  land  the}'  meant  his  Excellency  and 
the  Commissioners?     But  perhaps  the  mind  of  the  [192.]  Sheriff 
who  brought  this  information   to  the  Governor  was  some  what 
agitated  with  the  fears  of  an  insurrection  ;  and  moreover,  we  may 
presume  that  he  had  not  seen  the  paper  himself,  but  took  it  from 
report,   in  conformity  to  the   example  of  the  Governor,  who  be- 
lieved or  pretended  to  believe  every  word  of  it,  till  he  had  the  mor- 
tifying sight  of  the  true  contents  of  this  very  important  paper  ;  of 
which  the  following  as  he  at  length  tells  his  Lordship  is  "an  ex- 
'  act    copy,"    viz'.  —  Boston  June    13  17G8  The  Sons  of   liberty 
request  all  those  who  in  this  time  of  oppression  and  distraction 
wish  well  to  and  would  promote  the  peace,  good  order  and  security 
of   the   Town  and  Province,    to  assemble  at  Liberty  Hall   under 
Liberty  Tree  on  Tuesday  the  14  Ins1.,  at  10  OClock  precisely. — 
It  might  have  been  supposed  that  so  harmless  a  thing  would  have 
given  offence  to  none.     In  the  first  place  the  matters  alledged  in  it 
were  confessedly  true  :  That  this  was  a  time  of  oppression,  the 
people  all  felt:  That  it  was  a  time  of  distraction,  the  Governor 
and  the  Commissioners  loudly  proclaimed  :  A  design  then  at  such 
a  time  to  promote  the  peace  good  order  &  security  of  the  Town, 
was  at  least  unexceptionable.     But  the  Governor  complains  that 
"  it  was  not  considered  as  an  implication  of  danger."     Strange 
would  it  have  been  indeed  if  so  salutary  a  proposal  as  the  pro- 
moting the  peace  good  order  and  security  of  the  Town  had  been 
thus  considered.     "  Neither,  says  he,  was  the  impropriety  of  the 
sons  of  liberty  appointing  a  meeting  to  secure  the  peace  of  the 
town,  when  the  governor  and  council  were  sitting  upon  that  busi- 
ness, and  seemly  to  little  purpose,  taken  much  notice  of."  but  surely 
if  the  Governor  and  Council  could  be  supposed  to  be  setting  upon 
such  business,   at  such  a  time,  and  seemly  to  little  purpose,  there 
could  be  no  great  impropriety  in  other  peoples  undertaking.     Hut 
without  adopting  by  any  means  the  measure,  is  not  here  a  striking 
instance  of  the  disposition  of  Governor  Bernard,  and  some  others 
to  receive  with  the  greatest  avidity  the  most  exaggerated  accounts 
of  every  triffling  occurrance  that  has  happened,  and  without  any 
enquiry,  to   paint  them   to  the  Ministry  in  the  deepest  colours  ! 
Behold  a  Meeting  the  professed  design  of  which  was  to  promote 
the  peace,  good  order  and  security  of  the  Town,  and  that  in  open 
dny   light,  represented  to   the  Kings   Minister  as  a  Meeting  de- 


Boston  Town  Recoeds,  1769.  313 

signed  to  be  held  at  Six  O'Clock,  near  Sim-Set,  in  one  letter  ;  and 
in  another  the  next  Day.  "  a  most  violent  &  virulent  invitation 
to  rise  that  night?  and  [193.]  Clear  the  Country  of  the  Commis- 
sioners,—  threaten  the  Governor  and  commit  murder"  !  Incon- 
sequence of  which  he  tells  the  Council,  there  is  "no  time  to  en- 
quire into  the  particulars  of  the  former  riot."  They  are  to  be 
hurried  to  measures  to  provide  for  the  peace  of  .the  Town"  and  to 
prevent  "new  disturbances  premeditated  "  and  "immediately 
threatned  ; "  and  his  Lordship  is  lo  be  forthwith  informed  of 
it.  — Certainly  every  candid  person  will  from  hence  be  inclined  to 
believe  all  that  Governor  Bernard  relates  to  the  prejudice  of  this 
Town,  or  any  particular  persons,  with  great  discretion. 

His  Letter  of  the  16  of  June,  for  he  seemed  to  be  almost  every 
day  emply'd  in  writing  his  '•  Detail  "  —  of  common  reports,  gives 
the  Earl  of  Hillsburrough  an  Account  of  "  the  Meeting  at  Liberty 
Tree  in  pursuance  of  the  printed  notice."  And  after  entertaining 
his  Lordship  with  a  particular  tho'  awkward  and  inconsistent  de- 
scription of  the  Tree,  the  vast  height  of  the  flag  staff,  and  the 
design  of  hoisting  the  flag  staff,  and  the  design  of  hoisting  the 
flag,  namely  "  for  a  signal,"  which  to  be  sure  must  be  a  discovery 
quite  new  to  his  Lordship,  he  proceeds  to  say  ;  that  "  at  least  4000 
Men  assembled,"  that  "  the  principal  Gentleman  attended  to  en- 
gage the  lower  people  to  concur  in  measures  lor  peace  &  quiet." 
which  was  the  professed  end  of  their  meeting  —  that  "  one  of 
the  Selectman  was  chosen  Moderator  or  Chairman"  —  that  they 
adjourned  to  the  Town  Hall"  for  the  accommodation  of  so  large 
a  number.  And  there  it  being  "  objected  that  they  were  not  a 
legal  meeting  "  they  adjourned  to  the  Afternoon,"  he  should  have 
said,  broke  up;  and  the  Selectmen  instead  of  "legalizing  the 
Assembly"  as  it  is  odly  expressed,  called  a  Town  Meeting  agre- 
able  to  the  directions  of  the  law,  to  meet  in  the  Afternoon.  All 
this  was  certainly  an  innocent  proceeding,  and  the  Governor  him- 
self, it  is  presumed  did  not  think  otherwise,  for  it  happens  for 
once,  that  he  makes  no  particular  remarks  upon  it ;  and  if  it 
should  be  said  of  them,  that  they  met  seemingly  to  little  purpose, 
it  might  be  said  truly  enough  ;  but  it  is  to  be  remembred,  that 
another  Assembly,  with  their  Chairman  at  their  head,  if  the  Gov- 
ernor's ludicrous  account  of  the  Meeting  of  that  very  respectable 
body  could  be  credited,  might  in  that  respect  keep  them  in  coun- 
tenance —  But  innocent  as  it  was,  the  Governor  did  not  choose 
it  should  be  thought  that  he  viewed  it  in  that  light,  and  therefore 
told  the  Council,  &  his  Lordship  afterwards  that  "  had  it  been 
the  first  business  of  the  kind,  he  should  have  asked  their  advice, 
whether  he  should  not  send  to  the  General  for  [194.]  Troops: 
And  to  show  his  own  excessive  fondness  for  so  arbitrary  and 
violent  a  measure,  he  adds,  that  "he  was  ready  to  do  it,  if  any 
one  Gentleman  would  propose  it"  ! 

The  Governor  then  proceeds  to  give  a  detail  of  the  Meeting  of 
the  Town  in  the  Afternoon  ;  in  which  he  tells  his  Lordship  that 
"many  wild  and  violent  proposals  were  made."  It  ought  here  to 
be  observed  that  Governor  Bernard  constantly  represents  bodys  of 
Men,  even  the  most  respectable,  by  proposals  made  by  Individuals, 


314  City  Document  No.  88. 

which  have  been  misrepresented  by  Pimps  and  Parasites,  and  per- 
haps aggravated  by  himself,  instead  of  allowing  them  to  stand  or 
fall  by  their  own  conclusions  —  Can  any  thing  be  more  base,  more 
contrary  to  equity  than  this? — What  should  we  think  of  the  most 
respectable  Corporations  at  home  —  What  even  of  both  Houses  of 
Parliament,  if  they  were  to  be  Judged  of  by  every  motion  that  has 
Iveu  made,  or  every  expression  that  lias  dropped  from  Individuals 
in  the  warmth  of  debates?  If  it  had  been  true  that  such  proposals 
had  been  made,  nay,  if  measures  that  could  not  have  been  alto- 
gether Justified,  had  been  even  adopted  by  the  Town,  at  a  time 
when  every  ait  had  been  practised  to  irritate  the  people  and  inflame 
their  minds,  the  candid  part  of  mankind  would  have  been  ready  to 
overlook  it.  —  The  Governor  has  often  been  observed  to  discover 
an  aversion  to  free  Assemblvs :  No  wonder  then  that  he  should 
be  so  particularly  disgusted  at  a  legal  Meeting  of  the  Town  of 
Boston,  where  a  noble  freedom  of  speech  is  ever  expected  and 
maintained :  An  Assembly  of  which  it  may  be  Justly  said,  to 
borrow  the  language  of  the  ancient  Roman,  with  a  little  variation, 
iS entire  quae  volent  el  quae  senticat  dicere  licet,  They  think  as  they 
please,  and  speak  as  they  think.  —  Such  an  Assembly  has  ever 
been  the  dread  —  often  the  scourge  of  Tyrants  —  But  these  •'  wild 
and  violent  proposals,"  which  no  one  can  recollect  but  the 
Governor,  and  perhaps  his  Informers,  it  seems  were  "  warded 
off,"  as  the  Governor  is  pleased  (o  express  it,  from  whence  it  may 
be  supposed  that  prudence,  directed  at  this  Meeting,  "originated 
&  composed  as  he  says  it  was  "  —  By  these  expressions  it  is  con- 
ceived, he  would  intimate  to  his  Lordship  that  it  was  both  illegal 
and  tumultuous ;  and  if  that  was  his  real  intention,  the  insinuation 
was  both  false  &  injurious.  —  [195.  J  The  Meeting  was  "  origi- 
nated "  as  the  law  directs,  and  nothing  was  there  concluded  upon 
according  to  the  Governors  own  account,  but  the  appointment  of  a 
Committee,  which  he  himself  says  "  in  general  was  very  respecta- 
ble," to  wait  on  him  "  with  a  petition  ;  "  the  receiving  his  answer,  as 
he  is  pleased  to  say,  with  tk  universal  approbation"  !  writing  a  letter 
to  a  friend,  &  voting  such  Instructions  as  they  thought  proper  to 
their  representatives,  after  which  he  tells  his  Lordship  they'  broke 
up  quietly  and  the  Meeting  ended."  But  notwithstanding  this 
quiet  and  as  may  be  concluded  by  the  Governors  account  of  it, 
coalizing  Town  Meeting,  which  consisted  of  so  large  a  number,  and 
among  whom  he  himself  was  so  "  popular"  that  even  the  Moderator 
declared  that  he  really  believed  he  was  a  well  wisher  to  the  Prov- 
ince." (Thus  saith  Governor  Bernard,  but  no  one  remembers  or 
believes  it)  yet  all  this  will  not  avail  to  soften  his  mind  or  alter  his 
intention.  And  altho'  he  tells  his  Lordship  "  the  Romney  and  a 
Sloop  of  1G  Guns  Just  come  in  will  compleat  the  command  of  all 
the  approaches  to  the  Castle,  and  other  Ships  of  War  are  expected, 
so  that  the  security  of  the  Commissioners  is  effectually  provided 
for"  ;  yet  the  favorite  point  will  not  be  carried,  till  the  long  wished 
for  Troops  arrive,  to  enforce  his  arbitrary  Designs,  and  suppress 
the  spirit  of  liberty.  And  now  is  the  time,  if  ever,  to  press  the 
matter :  Every  hand  therefore  must  be  set  to  work,  and  nothing 
will  serve  the  cause  like  continually  holding  up  the  Idea  of  an  In- 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  1769,  315 

surrection.  Accordingly  we  find  one  of  the  Auxiliaries,  whose 
Letter  tho'  anonimous,  has  credit  enough  to  appear  in  the  list  laid 
before  Parliament,  says  "  It  is  mj'  opinion  that  the  promoters  of 
the  present  evils  are  ready  to  unmask,  and  openly  to  discover  their 
long  and  latent  design  to  Rebel"  —  and — "  involve  this  Coun- 
try in  blood  and  horror!  Another  anonimous  writer,  who  is  said 
to  be  "  well  acquainted  with  the  state  of  the  Town  of  Boston," 
says,  that  "  He  observes  a  sourness  in  the  minds  of  the  people  in 
general,  and  adds,  he  that  runs  may  read,  that  without  speedy 
interposition  a  great  storm  will  arise." — The  Collector  and  Comp- 
troller of  the  Customs  mention  with  deep  concern,  as  they  affect  to 
express  themselves  "  that  a  general  spirit  of  Insurrection  prevails, 
not  only  in  the  Town,  but  throughout  the  whole  Provinces."  The 
Commissioners  themselves  in  their  letter  to  General  Gage  tell  him 
"  that  it  is  utterly  impossible  to  carry  on  the  business  [196.]  Of 
the  Revenue  in  Boston,  from  the  outrageous  behavior  of  the 
People"  They  acquaint  the  General  "of  the  alarming  state  of 
things  in  the  Town  and  desire  him  to  give  them  protection."  And 
tho'  Governor  Bernard  when  not  so  much  on  his  guard,  or  perhaps 
under  some  little  compunction  of  mind  in  his  letter  to  the  Commis- 
sioners, June  13  gently  chides  them  for  their  ill  grounded  fears, 
and  tells  them  kt  he  is  very  snrry  that  they  think  themselves  so 
much  in  danger  in  Boston  (which  he  had  before  said  was  no  place 
of  safety  for  them.)  as  to  think  it  unsafe  for  them  to  reside  there  " 
notwithstanding  all  this,  yet  in  the  letter  we  are  now  considering, 
which  was  written  nearly  at  the  same  time,  he  possitively  assures 
his  Lordship  that  if  there  is  not  a  Revolt,  the  Leaders  must  falsify 
their  words  &  change  their  purposes.  Perhaps  he  would  have 
been  more  consistent  if  he  had  imagined  these  letters  would  ever 
have  Seen  the  light.  He  concludes  his  letter  with  mentioning  a  few 
more  papers  stuck  up  on  the  Town  House.  —  No  evidence  how- 
ever appears  to  have  accompanied  all  these  heavy  charges  upon  a 
whole  Community:  But  Governor  Bernard  and  others  seem  to 
have  conducted  their  proscriptions  as  if  they  could  have  even  fore- 
seen, that  the  bold  assertions  of  persons  apparently  inimical  to  a 
Country,  anonimous  Letters,  Street  conversation  picked  up  by 
Pimps  and  Spies,  and  Papers  stuck  up  by  no  one  knows  whom  on 
a  publick  Building,  would  be  of  so  much  weight  as  to  influence  the 
measures  of  Administrations  !  Can  any  Person  believe  this  a  Just 
representation,  when  Governor  Bernard  with  all  his  Industry  and 
aid  has  not  been  able  to  furnish  proof  that  any  Body  or  Combination 
of  Men,  or  even  a  single  Person  had  incurred  a  legal  penalty,  if  we 
except  the  disturbances  that  happened  on  March  and  June  already 

considered. 

The  Governor  in  his  letter  of  the  9  of  July  informs  his  Lordship 
of  a  manoeuvre,  as  he  calls  it,  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty  ;  a  number 
of  them  going  out  of  Boston  at  the  close  of  a  certain  day  in  par- 
tics,  and  meeting  on  each  side  of  a  House  in  Roxbury,  which  Mr. 
Robinson  (and  his  Lordship  must  be  informed  that  he  also  was 
one  of  the  Commissioners)  had  lately  hired  with  an  attention  to 
surprize  him  and  prevent  his  escape ;  but  he  being  at  the  Castle, 
where   the   Commissioners   had   been   driven  for  safety,  they  did 


316  City  Document  No.  88. 

nothing  but  plunder  his  Fruit  Trees.  This  is  a  very  solemn  ac- 
count indeed  [197.]  But  he  never  laid  this  "  manoeuvre  of  the 
Sons  of  Liberty,"  extraordinary  as  it  was,  before  the  Council, 
which  he  never  failed  to  do  on  like  occasions  ;  thinking  possibly, 
that  respectable  Body  might  be  of  opinion,  that  a  Gentleman  of 
any  political  party  may  be  supposed  to  have  his  Orchard  or  Fruit 
Gardens  robbed  by  liquor. 'sh  Boys,  without  making  a  formal  rep- 
resentation before  his  Majestys  first  Minister  of  State.  As  the 
Governor  will  still  have  it  that  "  the  Commissioners  were  drioen  to 
the  Castle  for  safety."  we  take  occasion  to  observe  here,  that  it 
was  notorious,  that  they  frequently  landed  on  the  Main,  and  made 
excursions  into  the  Country  ;  visiting  the  Lieuv'.  Governor  and 
other  Gentlemen  at  their  Seats,  where  it  would  have  been  easy 
to  have  seized  them  if  any  injury  had  been  intended  them ;  which 
as  his  Majestys  Council  very  Justly  have  observed,  "  demonstrated 
the  insincerity  of  their  declarations,"  as  it  did  those  of  the  Gover- 
nor "that  they  immured  themselves  at  the  Castle  for  safety." 

Another  part  of  the  detail  in  this  Letter  is  the  Rescue  of  a 
Vessel  which  had  been  seized  by  the  Custom  house  Officers.  It 
seems  by  Governor  Bernards  Account,  it  had  been  "  thought 
proper  to  try  an  experiment "  for  says  he,  "  When  the  Sloop  was 
Seized  which  occasioned  the  Riot,  and  in  consequence  of  which  the 
Commissioners  were  obliged  to  leave  the  Town,  the  greatest  part 
of  the  resentment  was  expressed  against  the  putting  her  under  the 
care  of  the  Man  of  War  "  which  was  very  true,  and  he  might  have 
also  said,  the  making  the  seizure  with  an  armed  force,  and  there- 
fore he  adds,  "when  the  Schooner  was  seized  it  was  left  at  the 
Wharff  under  no  other  care  but  two  Custom  house  Officers,"  in 
hopeful,  no  doubt,  if  not  certain  expectation  that  the  rescue  would 
be  made,  from  whence  it  might  possibly  be  made  to  appear  that 
the  resentment  against  the  proceedings  of  the  Custom  house 
Officers  in  the  former  instance,  as  being  violent  and  illegal,  was 
mere  pretence.  The  Rescue  was  made,  and  it  was  universally 
displeasing  to  the  Town.  The  Governor  says,  "this  very  Molasses 
was  the  next  day  returned"  and  tells  his  Lordship  that  "the 
Selectmen  of  the  Town  sent  for  the  Master  of  the  Schooner,"  and 
"ordered  him  to  return  it  under  pain  of  the  displeasure  of  the 
Town  ; "  which  is  a  gross  misrepresentation  of  the  matter,  and 
artfully  designed  for  to  prepare  for  the  subsequent  ungenerous 
remark  that  "  all  Government  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  People." 
A  good  Majestrate  would  have  rejoiced  in  this  instance  of  the 
[198.]  Peoples  voluntarily  affording  their  aid  in  the  recovery  of 
the  Kings  due  which  had  been  rescued  from  him,  without  torturing 
his  invention  to  find  an  illuatured  construction  for  it.  But 
Governor  Bernard  is  disturbed  that  "the  humor  of  the  people" 
which  he  says  this  was  done  "  to  please  "  should  ever  coincide  with 
their  duty  to  the  Sovereign  —  The  voluntary  Association  of  the 
People  to  promote  peace  and  good  order,  he  had  before  said 
"  carried  an  implication  of  clanger"  to  the  Government ;  and  now 
when  they  seem  to  unite  in  taking  measures  for  the  execution  of  a 
law,  although  in  its  nature  disagreable  to  the  People,  why  truly 
"  the  Government  is  in  the  hands  of  the  People,  and  not  of  those 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  17(39.  317 

deputed  by  the  King,  or  under  his  authority."  But  if  the  People 
had  a  view  to  save  their  own  reputation  in  this  peice  of  service  to 
the  Crown,  as  the  Governor  intimates  surely  he  will  not  say  it  was 
"  ill  judged,"  or  "  ill  timed."  The  truth  is  they  had  a  particular 
view  at  this  time  to  prevent  Governor  Bernard,  improving  the 
rescue,  which  they  were  in  no  sort  concerned  in,  to  the  prejudice 
of  the  Town,  as  had  been  his  constant  practice  in  other  cases  and 
as  it  now  evidently  appears  he  intended :  And  it  was  certainly  a 
wise  precaution  ;  tho'  a  candid  mind  will  by  no  means  exclude  any 
other  good  intentions. —  We  cannot  forbear  taking  notice  herewith 
freedom  of  a  very  extraordinary  assertion  of  Governor  Bernards  — 
in  this  letter  to  his  Lordship,  that  "  every  seizure  made,  cr  at- 
tempted to  be  made  on  Land  in  Boston  for  these  three  Years  past, 
before  these  two  Instances  had  been  violently  rescued  or  pre- 
vented "  —  An  assertion  so  notoriously  false,  that  few  Men  could 
have  made  it  without  blushing  and  we  may  suppose  even  Governor 
Bernard  himself  could  not  have  made  it  had  he  apprehended  it 
would  ever  have  become  publick.*  The  Officers  of  the  Customs 
themselves  will  not  venture  to  [199.]  Affirm  it.  If  the  assertion 
is  true,  his  Majestys  Council  must  have  been  egregiously  mistaken 
when  they  declare  that  "  no  instance. can  be  Aleged  of  any  Vessel 
seized,  or  any  seizure  whatever  in  the  Town  of  Boston  being  res- 
cued out  of  the  hands  of  the  Officers,  except  what  took  place  here 
on  the  8th.  of  July  Instant,  when  a  quantity  of  Molasses  (this  very 
Molasses)  having  been  seized,  was  taken  away  from  the  Officers 
who  had  charge  of  it;  which  unwarrantable  proceeding  being  uni- 
versally condemned,  the  Molasses  was  very  soon  returned,"  As 
this  base  story  was  invented  and  told  by  Governor  Bernard,  with 
the  sole  intention  of  casting  an  odium  upon  the  Town,  we  have 
reason  to  expect  his  retraction  of  it ;  or  he  must  bear  the  re- 
proaches of  an  highly  injured  Community,  and  the  Just  sensures 
of  all  impartial  Men.  After  these  false  and  injurious  assertions, 
he  thinks  it  a  proper  time  to  acquaint  his  Lordship,  that  the  one 
Regiment  which  had  the  flattering  expectation  of,  from  a  letter  he 
had  received  from  General  Gage,  '*  tho'  it  might  secure  the  Castle 
would  not  be  sufficient  to  awe  the  Town;  which  was  in  effect  ask- 
ing for  more.  Thus  we  see  the  means  which  Governor  Bernard 
and  his  Confederates  have  been  incessantly  using  to  accomplish 
their  designs  ;  and  strange  as  it  may  in  some  better  times  hereafter, 
these  means  and  these  very  Instruments  at  length  prevail'd  to  in- 
troduce a  military  power  into  the  Town  —  A  power  which  is  dayly 
trampling  on  our  laws,  contemning  our  Religeon,  and  invading  the 
Rights  both  of  Persons  and  property  —  A  power  by  which  a  truly 
loyal  &  but  long  abused  and  highly  provoked  Community,  is  not 

*  It  is  remarkable  that  Governor  Bernard  not  long  before  these  letters  were  made 
public,  expressed  to  a  certain  Gentleman,  his  earnest  wish  that  ye.  people  of  this  Prov- 
ince could  have  a  si^ht  of  all  li  is  letters  to  the  Ministry,  being  assured  that  they  would 
thereby  be  fully  convinced  that  he  was  a  friend  to  the  Province  —  Indeed  he'made  a 
declaration  to  the  same  purpose  in  one  of  his  publick  speeches  in  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives. Upon  ye.  arrival  of  the  letters  however,  he  discovered  as  some  say  a 
certain  paleness,  &  c'omplain'd  of  as  a  hardship  that  his  letters  wrote  in  confidence^ 
should  be  exposed  to  the  view  of  ye.  Public  —  A  striking  proof  of  the  baseness,  as 
well  as  the  pcrfid}'  of  his  Heart. 


318  City  Document  No.  88. 

indeed  awed  but  distressed  —  And  were  it  not  for  the  certain 
advice,  that  our  humble  and  dutiful  supplications  have  at  length 
reached  the  Royal  hand,  we  should  be  reduced  even  to  a  state  of 
desperation ! 

Governor  Bernard  in  his  letter  to  Lord  Hillsburrough  of  the 
16th.  Septenr".  begins  with  acquainting  his  Lordship  with  the  prudent 
methods  he  took,  to  communicate  the  expectation  of  the  Troops 
gradually  for  fear  of  certain  ill  effects  that  might  arise  from  their 
sudden  arrival.  And  no  wonder  that  the  Man  who  had  long 
been  representing  a  whole  Country  as  Rebels  ;  &  had  been  one  of 
the  principal  Instruments  in  bringing  such  a  curse  upon  it,  should 
at  that  Juncture  be  under  some  apprehensions  of  danger  — — 

[200.]  In  his  last  letter  he  talks  of  his  personal  courage  and 
tells  Lord  Hillsburrough  that  "  he  did  not  feel  his  own  firmness  of 
mind  to  fail":  He  also  mentions  "the  spirited  conduct  of  the 
Lieut? .  Governor;  and  with  pleasure  assures  his  Lordship  that  "  he 
could  depend  upon  7iis  resolution  and  steadiness  as  much  as  he 
could  upon  his  own"  ;  from  whence  he  concludes  that  "there 
would  be  no  want  of  a  due  enforcement  of  the  laws  to  the  correc- 
tion of  the  present  abuses  "  —  But  now  beseems  to  be  conscious 
of  fear!  Happy  was  it  for  him,  that  he  was  in  the  hands  of  a 
People  ;  who  attended  to  the  dictates  of  sound  policy,  religeon  and 
loyalty  —  He  first  opens  this  matter  to  one  of  the  Council,  and 
tells  him  that  "  he  had  private  advice  that  Troops  were  ordered 
hither,  but  that  he  had  no  public  orders  about  it  himself"  ;  and  he 
observes  that  "  it  was  quickly  very  thoroughly  circulated  all  over 
the  Town  "  and  the  Faction  immediately  took  the  alarm  "  By  this 
he  would  insinuate  that  the  better  sort  of  the  People  and  even  the 
generality  of  the  Town  were  well  enough  pleased  with  it.  If  the 
Faction  only  took  the  alarm,  the  generality  of  the  Town  must  have 
been  included  in  the  Faction:  For  in  truth,  he  had  the  mortifica- 
tion of  setting  the  whole  Body  of  the  People,  saving  his  own  very 
few  adherents  who  were  properly  an  implacable  Faction,  thoroughly 
awakened  and  alarmed  at  the  sudden  expectation  of  a  military 
force,  which  had  indeed  been  often  threatned  by  this  Faction,  but 
few  realized  it  before  —  And  now  the  Pimps  were  all  immediately 
sent  out,  who  no  doubt  were  rewarded  in  proportion  to  their  suc- 
cess in  the  business ;  and  the  Governor  soon  had  intelligence 
b -ought  to  him  of  the  conversation  of  "private  Companies"  And 
that  in  one  "  it  was  the  general  opinion  to  raise  the  Country  and 
oppose  the  Troops" ;  in  another  "  it  was  resolved  to  Surprize  & 
take  the  Castle."  How  ridiculously  impertinent  must  he  appear  in 
the  Eyes  of  Men  of  sense,  after  all  to  acquaint  his  Lordship  that 
"he  does  not  relate  these  accounts  as  certain  facts."  To  what 
purpose  then  did  he  relate  them  at  all !  It  seems  that  he  was  full 
as  designing  in  communicating  to  Lord  Hillsburrough,  as  he  was 
in  communicating  to  the  People,  tho'  his  designs  were  different : 
For  the  People  were  not  to  be  told  the  whole  that  the  Governor 
knew  to  be  true ;  but  his  Lordship  was  to  be  induced  to  [201.] 
Believe  more:  —  In  either  case  if  the  purpose  could  be  served, 
Sincerity  was  out  of  the  question.  Uncertain  however  as  these 
Facts   were,   his   Lordship    was    informed    that    they   were  yet 


Boston  Town  Kecoeds,  17 69.  319 

"  believed"  !  Strange  as  they  wei'e  said  to  be  facts  of  yesterday, 
that  no  one,  after  all  the  pains  that  had  been  taken,  could  make 
them  certain ;  and  if  they  were  not  to  be  made  certain,  stranger 
still  that  any  in  their  senses  should  believe  them.  Some  Men  are 
very  apt  to  believe  what  they  wish  to  be  true  :  This  no  doubt  is  the 
present  case  —  And  besides  we  are  to  remember,  that  more  than 
two  Regiments  were  wanted  to  awe  the  Town;  and  if. the  Governor 
could  boldly  say,  that  these  reports  vague  as  they  were,  had 
obtained  any  credit  here,  no  matter  by  whom  believed,  they 
would  have  some  weight.  Cut  he  must  be  presumed  to  think  ver}*- 
injudiciously  of  the  head  or  the  heart  of  a  Minister  of  State,  to 
suppose  that  such  an  undigested  and  ridiculous  account  of  things 
would  influence  his  measures.  Nothing  we  should  think  but  the 
great  candor  which  has  ever  appeared  in  Lord  Hillsburrough 
towards  Governor  Bernard,  could  have  prevented  his  severest 
sensure  —  But  admitting  they  were  true,  which  was  by  no  means 
the  case,  certainly  the  Town  is  not  accountable  for  what  one  of  his 
Excellencies  Spies  might  have  overheard  in  "  a  private  Company." 
—  Let  us  then  consider  the  account  the  Governor  gives  of  the 
publick  conduct  of  the  Town,  at  a  Meeting  legally  called  on  Mon- 
day September  12.  And  first  he  says,  "  at  the  Hall  the  Faction 
appeared  surrounded  with  all  its  Forces"  ;  and  an  appearance  very 
decent  at  least,  it  seems  they  were  capable  of  making  according  to 
the  Governor's  account.  For  he  tells  his  Lordship,  "a  set  of 
speeches,  by  the  Chiefs  of  the  Faction,  and  no  one  else  followed  in 
such  order  &  method,  that  every  thing  both  as  to  matter  and  order 
seemed  to  have  been  preconcerted  ;  "  while  alas!  the  "very  few 
principal  Gentlemen  there,"  the  better  sort  in  the  Governor's  esti- 
mation, appeared  "as  curious  perhaps  anxious  Spectators"! 
"Where  is  now  the  little  remains  of  an  expiring  Faction,  which  he 
had  so  often  told  the  World  of?  The  tone  is  wonderfully  altered ; 
the  Body  of  the  People  are  now  truly  represented  as  united  firm 
and  regular  in  their  opposition  to  his  measures,  while  his  own  few 
Partizans,  [202.]  Who  yet  must  be  stiled  "  the  principal  Gentle- 
men,'" tho'  expecting  every  moment  to  be  "  surrounded  with  all 
their  Forces,"  appeared  inquisitive  and  anxious  for  the  event !  But 
nothing  was  resolved  upon,  says  the  Governor,  but  to  put  two 
questions  to  me,  and  appoint  a  general  Committee  to  consider 
and  report."  The  main  question  to  the  Governor  was.  Whether 
he  had  certain  expectation  of  the  Troops?  To  which  he  answered 
with  an  artful  ambiguity,  that  he  had  private  advice,  but  no  pub- 
lick  orders  about  it.  His  private  advice  might  have  been  certain; 
or  he  might  have  had  authentlcJc  public  advice,  without  public 
orders  about  it,  for  General  Gage  was  Commander  in  Chief  of  the 
Kings  Forces.  Being  however  somewhat  pressed  by  the  Com- 
mittee who  waited  on  him,  he  discovered  a  duplicity  for  which  he 
has  a  peculiar  tallent,  and  said  that  he  would  not  have  the  Town 
certainly  expect  the  Troops ;  altho'  he  then  expected  them  himself, 
&  fully  believed  they  were  on  their  passage  from  llallifax,  and 
in  this  letter  to  Lord  Hillsburrough  he  tells  him,  that  it  was  at 
that  very  time  his  attention  to  communicate  these  expectations  of 
them  gradually     His   account  of  diverse  speeches  made   in   the 


320  City  Document  No.  88. 

Town  Meeting  is  as  uncertain,  and  with  regard  to  some  of  them  as 
untrue,  as  the  intelligence  he  had  received  of  the  prirate  conversa- 
tion :  Perhaps  it  was  carried  to  him  by  the  same  hands,  as  some  of 
his  principal  Gentlemen  were  there.  The  Resolves  and  deter- 
minations of  this  Meeting,  as  the  Governor  says,  were  published 
to  the  World ;  and  they  remain  on  the  Records  of  the  Town  that 
Posterity  may  Judge  of  them.  The  Town  has  Seen  no  reason 
since  to  revoke  these  Resolves,  notwithstanding  they  have  been 
sentenced  as  "  very  dangerous  Resolves  procured  by  mad  People," 
by  so  exquisite  a  Judge  in  matters  which  regard  Civil  Govern- 
ment, as  well  as  so  polite  a  Gentleman  as  General  Gage.  The 
Governor  himself  has  been  since  respectfully  requested  by  the 
Selectmen,  in  behalf  of  the  Town  to  shew  in  what  respect  the  Re- 
solves &  proceedings  of  this  very  Meeting  had  militated  with  law ; 
but  he  declined  it,  because  he  was  notable  to  do  it.  Spirited  in- 
deed they  were,  but  not  too  spirited  for  the  times — When  the 
Constitution,  threatned  is  the  principles  of  the  [203.]  Constitution 
must  if  ever  be  asserted  and  supported  —  the  Governor  indeed 
takes  notice  of  our  claim  to  a  certain  clause  in  the  Bill  of  Rights 
as  "a  large  stride"  But  as  we  are  free  British  Subjects,  we 
claim  all  that  security  against  arbitrary  power,  to  which  we  are 
entitled  by  the  Law  of  God,  and  nature  as  well  as  the  British 
Constitution.  And  if  a  standing  Army  may  not  be  posted  upon 
the  Subject  in  one  part  of  the  Empire  in  a  time  of  peace,  without 
their  consent,  there  can  be  no  reason  why  it  should  in  any  other  ; 

for  all  British  Subjects  are  or  ought  to  be  alike  free. 

The  Governor  in  a  former  letter  to  Lord  Hillsburrough  men- 
tioned the  Selectmens  ordering  the  Arms  belonging  to  the  Town 
to  be  brought  out  and  cleaned ;  and  to  make  something  of  the 
story,  he  told  him  that  "that  they  were  exposed  some  hours  at 
the  Town  House"  :  In  this  letter  he  says  "these  Arms  were  de- 
posited in  Chests,  and  laid  upon  the  floor  of  the  Town  Hall  to 
remind  the  People  of  the  use  of  them  Could  an}'  one  besides  Gov- 
ernor Bernard,  descend  to  so  pittiful  an  artifice  as  to  insinuate  that 
these  Arms  were  cleaned,  exposed  to  the  People,  and  finally  laid  on 
the  floor  of  the  Hall  at  this  Juncture,  to  induce  his  Lordship  to 
believe,  that  these  were  the  Forces  with  which  the  Faction 
appeared  "  surrounded,"  and  that  the  Selectmen  who  are  the 
principal  City  Majestrates,  and  the  leading  part  of  the  Town 
itself,  were  actually  in  the  plan  which  he  had  Just  before  men- 
tioned, as  concerted  in  one  of  the  private  Meetings  "  to  raise  the 
Country  and  oppose  the  Troops  "  ;  And  that  these  Arms  deposited 
in  Chests  were  laid  on  the  floor  of  the  Hall  "  to  remind  the  People 
of  the  use  of  them "  —  ,  and  inspirit  them  for  the  purpose  of 
opposing  the  Troops.  Whereas  the  simple  truth  of  the  matter  is, 
these  Arms  had  for  many  Years  been  deposited  in  Chests  and  laid 
on  the  floor  of  the  Town  Hall ;  but  the  Hall  itself  being  burnt  a 
few  Years  ago,  the  Arms  were  saved  from  the  Ruins  and  carried 
to  the  Town  House  :  After  the  Hall  was  Rebuilt  the  Town  ordered 
their  removal  there  ;  ami  tho'  it  happened  to  be  done  at  a  Juncture 
when  the  Governor  and  his  Confederates  talked  much  of  the 
Towns  revolting,  there  was  no  other  thought  in  the  minds  of  any, 


Boston   Town  Eecords,  17G9.  321 

except  the  Governor  and  a  few  more,  and  it  is  a  question  whether 
even  he,  or  tliey,  really  thought  otherwise,  but  to  lodge  them  in 
their  usual  &  proper  place  [204.]  We  cannot  help  taking  notice 
how  very  exact  the  Governor  sometimes  is  even  in  the  choice  of 
words,  in  his  "  detail  of  facts"  to  a  Minister  of  a  state:  An  in- 
stance of  which  we  have  now  before  us,  wherein  he  mentions  to 
his  Lordship  his  inclosing  "  a  blank  Copy  of  the  Precept  (as  he  is 
pleased  to  call  it)  which  the  Selectmen  have  used,"  it  is  a  wonder 
it  was  not  issued,  for  that  would  have  made  it  appear  more  formal 
'•  in  calling  together  the  Convention";  from  whence  be  takes 
occasion  to  say  it  was  "a  daring  assumption  of  the  Royal  au- 
thority." Here  then  is  the  treason  and  misprision  of  treason,  or  a 
part  of  it  at  least,  about  which  there  has  been  such  an  eclat  of 
late  ;  for  which  the  Governor  tells  his  Lordship  in  this  detaV  of 
the  Convention  every  well  wisher  of  the  Province,  of  whom  he  is 
doubtless  one,  "  most  devoutly  desires  the  Charter  may  be  for- 
feited "  —  and  some  of  the  Leaders  were  to  be  sent  to  England  to 
be  tried  there  —  Nay  his  Lordship  or  some  one  of  his  Majestys 
Servants  is  informed  that  they  expected  it  themselves  for  Com- 
mander Hood  in  one  of  his  short  &  pithy  Epistles,  says,  "  they 
were  alarm'd  and  expected  nothing  less  than  a  Voyage  to  England 
against  their  inclinations,"  but  his  Lordships  deep  penetration 
might  have  discovered  that  this  "  Precept  to  call  a  Convention  " 
was  nothing  more  than  a  friendly  circular  letter  to  the  Selectmen 
of  the  several  Towns  in  the  Province  desiring  them  to  propose  to 
their  respective  Towns  the  sending  a  Committees,  to  Join  with 
those  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  in  consulting  measures  to  promote 
peace  and  good  order  ;  which  was  so  far  from  an  assumption  of 
the  Royal  authority,  that  it  assumed  not  the  least  shadow  of  any 
authority  whatever  —  This  very  innocent  measure  of  the  Town  in 
"calling  together  a  Convention"  as  the  Governor  expresses  it, 
which  he  so  highly  sensures,  and  upon  the  promoters  of  which 
he  loudly  calls  for  the  National  venegeance,  was  most  certainly 
attended  with  all  the  happy  effects  for  which  it  was  proposed : 
For  the  general  sentiments  of  the  Province  was  thereby  Collected, 
which  could  not  otherwise  have  been  done  ;  the  Governor  having 
arbitrarily  dissolved  the  General  Assembly,  and  positively  refused 
to  call  another,  against  the  dutiful  Petition  of  the  Convention 
itself,  as  well  as  of  the  Town  [205.]  Even  before  they  proposed 
or  thought  of  it — The  Several  Towns  having  an  opportunity  of 
conferring  together  by  their  Committees,  had  the  same  effects 
which  followed  a  certain  circular  letter,  which  formerly  so  per- 
plexed his  Excellency  ;  for  the  People  became  the  more  united  in  the 
measures  proper  to  be  taken  for  the  preservation  of  their  common 
rights  at  so  critical  and  alarming  a  Juncture.  And  tho'  the  Gov- 
ernor says  "  at  the  Fountain  head  it  was  intended  to  provoke 
resentment,"  yet  to  this  very  measure  have  been  imputed,  in  some 
small  degree  very  Justly  or  not,  it  becomes  not  this  Town  to  say, 
that  prudence  as  well  as  fermness  and  perseverance  in  the  cause 
of  liberty,  of  which  it  is  hoped  this  Country  will  ever  avail  itself, 
even  Governor  Bernard  cannot  but  own  that  the  Convention  dis- 
covered "  moderation"  and  a  "  temperate  conduct,"  which  is  far 


322  City  Document  No.  88. 

from  being  inconsistent  with  true  fortitude :  But  lie  is  not  willing 
that  the  Town  of  Boston  should  "  assume  the  merit  of  it."  They 
are  very  far  from  a  disposition  thus  to  assume :  They  are  content 
to  have  that  share  of  merit  which  their  beloved  Country  Men  are 
willing  they  should  have.  And  tho'  he  would  insinuate  to  his  Lord- 
ship with  his  usual  cunning,  that  there  was  at  the  Convention  an 
essential  difference  of  sentiments  between  the  Town  and  the 
CounUy ;  and  that  "many  of  the  Deputies  came  down  with  a 
disposition  and  Instructions  to  prevent  the  Bostoners  (as  he 
elegantly  expresses  himself)  involving  the  Province  in  the  con- 
sequences of  their  own  mad  devises " ;  and  that  many  of  them 
"  were  from  the  begining  sensible  of  the  impropriety  and  danger 
of  this  proceeding,"  his  Lordship  as  they  printed  what  they  did, 
has  no  doubt  been  since  convinced,  that  they  were  united  in  their 

Sentiments  of  the  common  cause 

But  this  very  peaceable  proposal,  the  Governor  thinks  exceeded 
the  "  Great  Rebellion  when  it  was  at  the  highest,  and  the  con- 
fusion arising  therefrom  most  urgent  for  some  extraordinary 
measures."  Here  is  the  burden  of  the  Song  —  extraordinary 
'measures!  And  surely  his  Lordship  must  propose  some  very 
extraordinary  measures  to  chastise  a  greater  than  the  great  Rebel- 
lion, even  when  it  was  at  the  highest  —  Not  content  with  pouring 
forth  this  torrent  of  Zeal,  the  Governor  still  presses  upon  his 
Lordship;  and  assures  him  that  "  unless  it  is  prevented  by  some 
power  without,  not  only  the  [206.]  Crown  Officers,  will  be 
excluded,  but  every  ingredient  of  Royalty  "  in  the  Government  of 
the  Province  will  totalh'  be  destroyed  —  What  Rhetorick !  to 
arrest  his  Lordships  attention,  and  hurry  him  on  to  conclude  with 
the  Governor,  that  "  the  force  already  ordered  by  General  Gage 
viz4.  —  two  Regiments  will  not  be  sufficient."  —  In  order  still  to 
heighten  the  Ideas  of  an  intended  Rebellion,  the  Governor  adds 
"it  is  now  a  great  question  whether  the  Kings  Troops  will  be  suf- 
fered to  enter  the  Town  or  not."  And  "  the  design  against  the 
Castle  is  now  so  well  known  that  it  is  probable  that  the  very 
names  of  the  People  who  were  enrolled  for  that  service  to  the 
number  of  five  hundred,  or  of  the  Chiefs  of  them  will  be  dis- 
covered." It  is  pritty  remarkable  the  Governor  in  the  former 
part  of  this  letter  informed  his  Lordship,  that  he  did  not  relate 
this  very  account  as  a  certain  fact ;  his  Spies  must  then  make  very 
quick  rotations,  and  the  intelligence  flow  in  very  fast,  to  be  so 
well  assured  of  it  before  he  concluded ;  or  the  Governor  must  be 
so  unfortunate,  perhaps  not  having  time  in  the  multiplicity  of  his 
affairs,  to  keep  a  regular  diary,  as  to  forget  what  he  had  wrote, 
and  as  we  now  and  then  find  it  happens,  in  the  "  overflowings"  of 

his  Zeale,  to  be  inconsistent  with  himself. 

It  would  be  an  endless  task  to  take  particular  notice  of  every  false 
and  injurious  representation  contained  in  the  voluminous  Letters.* 

*  Indeed  it  might  be  said  the  whole  world  would  not  contain  all  the  remarks  that 
might  be  Justly  made  upon  them.  One  instance  however  seems  to  be  overlook'd  by 
the  Town,  and  as  it  is  an  instance  of  importance,  it  is  hoped,  its  bein?  noticed  in  the 
margin  will  not  be  thought  amiss.  The  Governor  after  having  prevail'd  on  the 
Council,  at  a  very  thin  Board,  and  by  a  majority  of  one  only  out  of  eleven  Gentlemen 
present,  to  advise  to  the  clearing  of  the  Manufactory  House  in  Boston,  for  the  recep- 


Boston  Town  Records,  1769.  323 

No  one  can  read  them  without  being  astonished  at  seeing  a  Person 
in  so  important  a  department  as  Governor  Bernard  sustained, 
[207.]  Defending  in  bis  Letters  to  a  Minister  of  State  to 
such  trifling  Circumstances  and  such  slanderous  chit-chat:  Boast- 
ing, as  he  does  in  one  of  his  Letters  of  his  over-reaching  those 
with  whom  he  was  transacting  public  business  ;  and  in  order  to 
prejudice  the  most  respectable  Bodjs,  meanly  fetching  from 
Individuals  belonging  to  those  Bodies,  what  had  been  drop'd 
in  the  course  of  Business  or  Debate :  Journalizing  every  idle 
Report   brought  to   him,    and    in    short    acting    the    part   of    a 

tion  of  A  part  of  the  two  Irish  Regiments  then  expected,  in  his  letter  to  Lord  Hills- 
hurrough  of  Novemr  1st  he  gives  him  ail  account  of  the  steps  he  had  ordered  for  the 
removal  of  the  Families  out  of  the  House.  And  it  seems  that  the  Governor,  by  a 
power  which  he  had  assumed,  appointed  the  Sheriff  and  two  of  his  Deputies,  Baliffs 
for  the  Governor  and  Council  for  the  purpose ;  These  Families  however,  refused  to 
submit  to  such  authority  even  tho'  the  Chief  Justice  himself  condescended,  to  go  with 
the  Sheriff,  and  advised  them  to  give  up  the  House.  The  Sheriff  upon  the  third 
attempt  says  the  Governor,  "finding  the  Window  opened  entred;  upon  which 
[207.]  The  People  gathered  about  him  and  shut  him  up;  he  then  made  a  signal 
to  an  Officer  who  was  without,  who  brought  a  party  of  Soldiers,  who  took  possession 
of  the  Yard  of  the  Building,  and  relieved  the  Sheriff  from  his  confinement  "  —  This 
is  the  Governors  account  of  the  matter;  but  others  give  a  very  different  account  of  it, 
and  say  that  the  Sheriff  attempted  aforceable  entry,  and  was  resisted  by  the  People 
within  the  house ;  and  by  them  only :  Certain  it  is  that  one  of  them  commenced  an 
action  of  trespass  against  the  Sheriff;  but  what  became  of  the  Action  the  Records  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  will  best  shew :  It  is  also  certain  that  an  Officer  a  military 
Officer,  was  without  and  at  hand;  and  upon  a  signal  from  the  Sheriff,  brought  a 
party  of  Soldiers,  the  whole  Regiment  being  then  incamped  in  sight  on  the  Common 
and  the  Soldiers  (not  the  Inhabitants  as  the  Governor  asserts)  "  kept  the  House 
blockaded  all  that  Day  and  best  part  of  the  next."  It  is  further  certain  and  it  may  be 
attested  by  the  oaths  of  several  persons  of  credit  that  offers  were  made  to  the  Sheriff, 
of  sufficient  aid  in  the  legal  execution  of  his  Office,  if  he  would  dismiss  the  Troops ; 
illegal  steps  being  at  the  same  time  excepted  against —  Great  numbers  of  people  dur- 
ing the  Siege  as  it  may  be  property  called,  were  collected  in  the  Street,  which  is  as 
spacious  as  in  any  part  of  the  Town,  but  the  Governor  owns  they  did  no  mischief: 
He  indeed  represents  it  in  his  usual  manner  as  a  great  Mob  assembled  with  some  of 
the  Chiefs  of  the  Faction,  intimating  thereby  as  in  his  former  letters  "  an  intended  in- 
surrection:" The  General  on  the  other  hand  says  the  matter  "occasioned  a  little 
disturbance  of  no  consequence  " ;  but  takes  care  to  add,  that  "  it  served  to  show  a 
most  obstinate  spirit  of  opposition  to  every  measure  of  Government "  The  Governor 
further  says,  the  Inhabitants  "  were  very  abusive  to  the  Soldiers  "  :  —  The  contrary 
is  most  certainly  and  notoriously  true. '  He  says  also  that  "  the  Soldiers  were  with- 
drawn on  the  Evening  of  the  second  Day  "  :  So  far  is  this  from  trnth,  that  the  Guar<J 
of  Soldiers;  to  whose  custody  the  Sheriff  committed  the  Cellar  of  the  House,  which  he 
had  got  the  possession  of,  kept  their  post  a  much  longer  time;  and  application  was 
made  to  diverse  of  his  Majestys  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  their  removed  by  the  force  of 
law  near  three  weeks  after.  And  again  the  Governor  saj-s,  that"  this  I3uilding'[208.'] 
Was  kept  filled  with  the  outcast  of  the  workhouse,  to  prevent  its  bcinif  used  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  Kings  Troops  ";  which  is  contradicted  by  the  Oaths  of  all  the 
Overseers  of  the  poor,  who  must  have  known  it  had  it  been  true,  lor  the  care  and  Gov- 
ernment of  the  Work-House  is  by  law  vested  in  them.  The  truth  is  the  people 
gathered  upon  this  extraordinary  occasion,  but  were  very  peaceable;  some  few  it  may 
be  to  cany  intelligence  to  the  Governor,  but  by  far  the  greater  part,  from  a  Just 
abhorrence  of  this  measure  of  Government,  to  borrow  the  general  expression,  and  an 
anxiety  for  the  event  of  this  first  open  and  avoiv'd  effort  of  Military  Tyrrany  !  The 
Governor  declares,  that  the  Council  who  were  alarmed  at  the  violence  of  this  proceed- 
ing, must  have  known  that  the  Entry  "could  not  have  been  made  without/orce,"  and 
he  sufficiently  explain  what  sort  of  force  be  meant  in  the  reason  he  gives  why  the 
Soldiers  were  withdrawn  for  that  time,  which  was  because  "the  Building  was  not  im- 
mediately wanted,"  the  Irish  Regiment  for  whom  it  was  designed  as  was  pretended  Not 
[203.]  being  yet  arrived—  Perhaps  the  Governor  gives  this  circumstantial  account  to 
his  Lordship  to  confirm  what  he  had  before  said,  that  "  Two  Regiments  were  not  suf- 
ficient to  awe  tub  Town  —  This  attack  upon  the  s.ecurity  of  the  Peoples  Dwelling- 
JJouses,  was  as  violent  as  has  ever  been  known  even  under  the  most  despotick  Govern- 
ments tho'  happily  it  proved  unsuccessful.  This  is  one  of  the  bright  glories  of 
Bernards  Administration  :  //e  who  with  so  much  readiness  &  exact  propriety  afforded 
the  aid  of  his  advice,  and  prejudged  the  matter,  claims  however  his  share  in  the 
Annals  of  fame. 


324  City  Document  No.  88. 

Pimp  rather  than  a  Governor. — As  these  Letters  being 
now  made  publick,  will  be  a  Monument  of  disgrace  to  him, 
it  cannot  be  supposed,  that  any  honor  c:m  be  derived  from 
them,  to  those  great  Men  to  whom  they  were  addressed,  not- 
withstanding the  Town  have  been  obliged  in  Justice  [208.]  Jus- 
tice to  themselves  ;  to  say  this  much  in  their  own  vindication,  we 
should  be  yet  be  glad  that  the  ancient  and  happy  union  between 
Great  Britain  and  this  Country,  which  Governor  Bernard  has  so 
industriously  laboured  to  interrupt,  might  be  restored.  Some  have 
indeed  flatter'd  themselves  with  the  prospect  of  it;  as  intelligence 
is  said  to  have  been  received  from  Administration,  that  all  the 
Revenue  Acts  would  be  repeated :  But  as  it  since  appears  by 
Lord  Hillsburroughs  own  account,  that  nothing  more  is  intended, 
than  the  taking  off  the  dutys  on  Paper,  Glass,  and  Painters  colours, 
upon  commercial  principles  only  ;  if  that  is  all  it  will  not  give  sat- 
isfaction :  It  will  not  even  relieve  the  trade  from  the  buidens  it 
labours  under ;  much  less  will  it  remove  the  grounds  of  the  discon- 
tent, which  runs  thro'  the  Continent,  upon  much  higher  principles. 
Their  Rights  are  invaded  by  these  Acts  ;  therefore  untill  they  are 
all  repealed,  the  cause  of  their  Just  complaints  cannot  be  removed  : 
In  short  the  Grievances  which  lie  heavily  upon  us  we  shall  never 
think  redressed,  till  every  Act  passed  by  the  British  Parliament  for 
the  express  purpose  of  raising  a  Revenue  upon  us  without  our  con- 
sent is  repealed  ;  till  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  of  the 
Customs  is  dissolved  ;  the  Troops  recalled,  and  things  restored  to 
the  state  they  were  in  before  the  late  extraordinary  measures  of 

Administration  took  place. 

[209.]  Besides  these  Letters  of  Governor  Bernard,  we  find 
others  written  by  General  Gage  and  Commodore  Hood.  And  we 
cannot  but  observe  that  altho'  these  Gentlemen  were  perfect 
Strangers  in  the  Town,  they  have  yet  taken  such  extraordinary 
freedoms,  and  the  General  in  particular  has  wrote  in  such  a  posi- 
tive strain,  as  must  unavoidably  give  high  disgust  to  every  Reader 
of  candor  and  impartiality.  —  If  these  Gentlemen  received  the 
character  of  the  Town,  or  of  any  of  its  Individuals,  from  Governor 
Bernard  as  we  are  ready  to  think  they  did,  they  must  have  been 
long  before  convinced,  if  they  knew  any  thing  at  all  of  the  state 
of  the  Town,  that  the  Governor  was  too  deeply  interested  in 
misrepresenting,  to  be  credited  in  a  point  of  that  importance  ;  and 
therefore  common  Justice  would  have  dictated  a  suspension  of 
their  public  testimony  to  the  prejudice  of  a  Community,  till  they 
could  have  had  the  opportunity  of  doing  it  upon  impartial  enquiry, 
or  their  own  observation  —  The  General  seems  to  have  early  im- 
bib'd  some  sort  of  prejudice  against  a  Town,  that  had  been  before 
prejudiced  in  his  favor :  For  the  Governor  in  one  of  his  Letters  to 
Lord  Hillsburrough  acquaints  him,  that  the  General  "  had  sent 
Cap*.  Montresor  from  New  York  to  assist  the  Forces  as  Enginier, 
and  enable  them  to  recover  and  maintain  the  Castle  and  such 
other  Posts  as  they  could  secure,"  upon  intelligence  that  the 
People  in  and  about  Boston  had  revolted.  Now  even  the  Gov- 
ernor himself  declares  this  to  be  a  mistake,  and  says  that  things 
were  not  "  quite  so  bad  as  that  came  to."  —  As  there  are  two  con- 


Boston  Town  Kecords,  1769.  325 

stant  and  regular  Posts  between  this  Town  &  N  York,  each  of 
which  carrys  intelligence  from  the  one  to  the  other  in  the  course 
of  a  week ;  and  more  especially  as  he  might  reasonably  expect 
authentick  accounts  of  a  matter  of  such  importance,  by  express  in 
a  shorter  time  ;  it  is  strange  if  the  Generals  mind  was  unbiassed, 
that  he  should  so  strongly  rely  upon  private  advice,  as  to  form  his 
measures  from  them,  which  the  Governor  [210.]  Asserts  —  It 
was  a  measure  of  importance,  as  it  issued  to  the  Town  ;  for  Coll0. 
Dalrymple  who  had  the  Command  of  the  Regiments,  from  the 
authority  of  these  new  orders,  as  the  Governor  declares,  thought 
proper  to  alter  the  plan,  which  was  to  land  only  one,  and  landed 
both  the  Regiments  in  Boston  without  loss  of  time.  Perhaps  it 
was  under  the  impression  of  these  private  advices,  and  the  Narra- 
tive of  the  proceedings  of  the  Town  Meeting,  which  the  Governor 
also  mentions  as  influential  on  the  Generals  measures,  and  which 
possibly  was  a  Narrative  of  the  Governors  own  writing,  that  so 
wrought  upon  the  Generals  imagination,  as  to  induce  him  to  give 
his  opinion  to  his  Lordship,  that  the  "intentions  of  the  Town 
were  suspicious,  and  that  he  was  happy  the  Troops  from  Hallifax 
arrived  at  the  time  they  did !  "  These  and  many  such  like  unpro- 
voked expressions  are  to  be  found  in  the  Letters  of  both  of  these 
Gentlemen,  and  especially  the  Generals ;  but  as  they  partake  of  a 
full  portion  of  the  spirit  of  Governor  Bernards  and  as  the  sense  of 
this  Province  fully  appears  in  the  late  spirited  Resolves  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  we  shall  avoid  troubling  the  Publick 
with  particular  Remarks  upon  them,  and  to  borrow  an  expression 
of  great  authority,  "  treat  them  with  the  contempt  they  de- 
serve   

[Note.  — The  volume  is  closed  at  this  point,  being  the  last  date 
in  the  year  1769.  It  will  be  noted  that  original  pages  206,  207, 
208,  and  209  contain  a  long  foot-note,  so  arranged  in  the  manu- 
script volume.  —  W.  H.  W.] 


INDEX    TO    NAMES. 


Abbott,  163. 

Adams,  8,  19,  21,  23,  26,  33,  36, 
66,  67,  81,  92,  95,  97,  103, 
134,  143,  150,  152,  154,  157, 
161,  167,  170,  172,  174,  176, 
189,  195,  193,  199,  201,  2')2, 
218,  233,  239,  241,  242,  243, 
255,  257,  260,  263,  267,  268, 
278,  279,  285,  297,  300,  301. 

Alford,  100. 
f  Allen,  19,  27,  39,  69,  132,  166, 

J  Allin,  26S. 
)  Alline,  203. 
(.Allyne,  82,  108. 

Alley,  Hog,  97,  99. 

Allin,  see  Allen. 

Alline,  see  Allen. 

Allyne,  see  Allen. 

America,  153, 154,  155, 175,  176, 

243,  244,  257,  259, 

297,  29S,  299,  307. 

British,  153. 

North,  175,  177,  178, 

287,  289. 

Amory,  18,  30,  196,  199,  290. 

Anderson,  164. 

Andrew,  132. 

Andrews,  82,  105, 109,  132,  166, 
267. 

Andross,  173. 

Appleton,  131. 

Arnold,  267. 

Atkins,  36. 

Atkins,  15. 

Auehmutv,  24,  26,  103. 

Austin,  2,  4,  10,  16,  17,  31,  35, 
t>6,  69,  78,  79,  83,  96,  104, 
130,  135,  139,  142,  162,  163, 
221,  239,  245,  285. 

Avery,  10,  48,  60,  78,  85,  87,  98, 
163,  172,  180,  234. 


Bacon,  83,  109. 

Baker,  96,  106,  133,  198,  199,  224,  236,  239. 
<  Bailey,  3,  34. 
}  liayley,  18,  50,  82,  207,  289. 
Balch,  199. 
Ballard,  4,  19,  172,  196,  209,  214,  239,  266, 

290. 
Bangs,  132,  166,  204,  235,  269. 
Bant,  131. 
4  Barber,  290. 

)  Barbour,  133,  164,  198,  239,  242,  267. 
Barker,  2,  270. 

Barnard,  4,  19,  35,  36,  49,  50,  70. 
Baruett,  117. 
Barr,  212. 

Barrat,  32,  34,  47. 

Barratt,  18,  47,  56,  79,  105,  106,  130. 
Barret,  232,  241,  282. 
■I  Barrett,  1,  7,  16,  82,  126,  153,  163,  200,  207, 
222,  233,  234,   239,  248,   250,   266,  267, 
273,  294. 
Barrot,  66. 
I  Barre,  157,  206,  207,  212,  218,  298. 
Barree,  177,  178,  274,  299,  300,  301. 
Barry,  250. 
Barrell,  267. 
Barret,  see  Barrat. 


43,  50,  51,  59, 
108,  110,  116, 
158,  159,  16i), 
177,182,  187, 
208,210,211, 
245,249,254, 
271,  272,  273, 


167,  234. 


186,  191,  194, 
286,  287,  288, 


182, 183,  227, 


204,  209,  235, 


44,  47,  48,  65, 
107,  112,  114, 
164,  181,  197, 

134,  145,  162, 


Barrett,  see  Barrat. 
Barrick,  198. 
Barrot,  see  Barrat. 
Barry,  see  Barree. 
Bartlett,  236. 
Battery  March,  214. 
Battery,  North,  144, 151,  189. 

South,  42. 
Baves,  290. 

Baxter,  19,  83,  109,  132,  166,  204,  235,  269. 
Bayley,  see  Bailey. 
I  Beautineau,  85,  136,  145,  151,  181. 
)  Boutineau,  7,  11,  23. 

Belknap,  3,  18,  35,  50,  70,  82,  83,  107, 172,  266. 
Bell,  5. 

Bernard,  55,  161,  208,  235,  242,  257,  260,  261, 
267,  26:),  296,  297,  298,  299,  300,  303,  304, 
305,  306,  307,  308,  309,  310,  312,  313,  314, 
315,  316,  317,  318,  319,  320,  321,  323,  324, 
325. 
Berry,  198,  239. 

Bethune,  23,  85,  114,  115,  116,  126,  180,  240. 
Bill,  11. 

Bird,  3,  70,  81,  132,  207. 
Blair,  244,  245,  284. 
Blake,  35,  50,  96,  209. 
Blanchard,  70,107,  131. 
I  Blodget,  240. 
)  Blodgett,  241,252. 
Boardman,  81,  82,  163,  167,  207,  290. 
Bollan,  41,  43,  44,  297,  299,  303. 
Bond,  294. 

f  Bourn,  4,  32,  34,  45,  47,  53,  66,  80,  105,  130, 

153,  151,  163,  17'.',  197,  198,  199,  200,  208, 

<  219,  221,  222,  236,  238, 250,  254,  255,  289, 

293. 
(.  Bourne,  17,  47. 
Boutineau,  see  Beautineau. 
Bowdoin,  78,  181,  245,  284. 
Bowen,  245,  265,  284. 
Bowes,  34,  49,  165,  242. 
Bowman,  50. 
Box,  78. 

Boycr,  2,  69,  82,  96. 
Boyleston,  219. 

Boylston,  1 14, 154, 107, 207, 236, 246, 261, 270. 
Boylstone,  7,  199,  205. 
Boynton,  131. 
Bradford,  19,  21,  35,  51,  65,  68,  74,  81,  106, 

198,  207,  214,  233,  261,  266,  277. 
Bradley,  33. 

Braintree,  147,  279,  280,  281. 
Brattle,  95,  181,  234,  273. 
Brazier,  198. 
Breck,  83,  132,  204,  269. 
Brick,  109, 166,  235. 
Bridge,  The,  241. 

Mill,  147,281,282,294,295. 
Neponsit,  46. 
Swing,  30,  58,  62. 
Bridgham,  172,  199. 
Britain,  122,  155. 
Britian,  North,  225. 

Bromiield,  47,  48,  66,  80,  105,  130, 133,  134. 
(  Brown,  18,34,  35,  51,  68,  81,  83,  108,  131, 
]         140,  165,  189,  190,  203,  209,  231,  237,  268. 
(  Browne,  107. 
Bruce,  270. 
Bryant,  137. 


328 


City  Document  No. 


(  Bultinch,  in,  234. 

|  Bullfinch,  181,  269. 
Burch,  305,  307. 
Burden,  280. 

Burial  Place,  South,  24,  27. 
Burt,  110. 
Butler,  2o9. 
Butt,  70. 
Buttou,  280. 

Bvies,  22,  45,  49,  66,  81,  84,  88,  9G,  107,  109, 
114,  133,  141,  181,  196,  208,  212,  245,  284. 

Calf,  50,  70,  242,  277. 
Campbell,  214. 
Candish,  18. 

»  Capen,  108. 

I  Capon,  233. 

\  Carey,  240. 

)  Cary,  4. 
Cannes,  70,  83. 
Carolina,  South,  31. 
Carter,  3,  185,  213,  242,  247,  271,  283. 
Cary,  see  Carey. 

I  Casneau,  70. 

I  Cazneau,  30. 
Cast,  181. 

Castle  William,  181. 
Cazneau,  see  Casneau. 
Chamberlain,  46. 

I  Champney,  166,  203,  207. 

)  Champuy,  234,  268. 

(Chancey,  78. 
Chausey,  114,  245. 
Chauncey,  65,  96. 
Chauncy,  162,  181,  212. 
Chapman,  50,  55. 
Chanty,  104. 

Charlestown,  226,  279,  280,  282,  289. 
Chase,  167,  199,  236,  270. 
Chauncey,  see  Chancey. 
Chauncy,  see  Chancey. 
Checkley,  1,  40,  56,  78,  96,  114,  129,  142,  157, 

181,212,245. 
Cheever,  138,  163,  199,  233,  234,  246. 
Chelsea,  123,  2*2. 
Cherdon,  181. 
Child.  3,  170,  174. 

Church,  6,  21,  35,  51,  68,  81, 108, 117,  131, 151, 
158,  165,  203,  226,  237,  241,  248,  254,  255, 
257,  268,  279. 
Church,  Old  Brick,  190. 

South,  253,  256. 
(  Clark,  66,  95,  114,  117,  174,  180,  198,   212, 
{         234,  240,  252,  267. 
(  Clarke,  3,  11,  23,  45,  69,  82,  133,  172. 
Clemmens,  237. 
Cleverly,  180,  199. 
I  Cobbet,  167,  207. 
j  Cobbit,  83. 
Cochrau,  214. 

Cofiln,  136,  142,  206,  217,  285. 
Cogswell,  81. 
Coke,  288. 
Colburn,  18. 
Collins,  2,  18,  34,  50,  51,  69,  82,  107,  108,  110, 

131,  132,  166,  203,  234,  268. 
Colonies,  The  British,  287. 
Colson,  165. 
Comer,  256. 

Common,  The,  22,  24,  25,  42,  43,  59,  75,  94,  97 
116,  146,  176,  185, 186,  207,  213,  217,  246, 
247,  272,  277,  283,  284,  323. 
Conev,  3. 

(  Connecticut,  1,  31,  46,  65,  79,  104,  129,  142, 
{         162,  197,  232,  252,  260,  265,  294,  302. 
(  Connecticut,  10,  16. 
Conway,  157,  178, 179,  217,  218,  259. 
(  Cook,  95,  222. 
/  Cooke,  3. 

Cooper,  2,  5,  7,  10,  11, 17,  26,  33,  35,  45,  46, 48, 
60,  61,  62,  65,  68,  78,  79,  83,  96,  104,  107, 
113,  114,  135,  142,  162,  163,  181,  197,  198, 
212,  232,  233,  245,  248,  251,  259,  266,  269, 
273,  284. 


Copeland,  236. 

Copley,  267. 

Corbitt,  164. 

Cornish,  19. 

Cotla,  50,  70,  83,  109,  132,  166,  204,  235,  269. 

Cotton,  160,  189. 

County  of  Suffolk,   61,  77,  89,  148,  149,  160, 

161,  163,  187,  188. 
Court,  Moon,  115. 
Cove,  The,  100,  147,  279,  2S0,  281. 

Bendall's,  279,  281. 
Coverly,  5, 17. 

Cowell,  36,  88,  109,  132,  166,  204,  235,  269. 
Cradock,  45. 
I  Craffts,  235. 

)  Crafts,  3,  69,  82,  108,  131,  165,  166,  203,  269. 
Creek,  The,  147. 

Mill,  248,281. 
Cromby,  109. 
Crompston,  49. 
Crosby,  207,  222. 
Cross,  51. 
Cudworth,  161. 
\  Cummiugs,  78. 
f  Cummins,  96. 
Cumston,  6. 
Cunningham,  82,  107,  131, 138,  164,  200,  233, 

285   293 
Curtis,  3,  55,  70,  82,  83,  109,  133,  167,  204, 235, 

269. 
Cushing,  1,  9,  10,  13,  16,  20,  23,  31,  44,  46,  47, 
57,^65,  72,  73,  78,  79,  88,  96,  105, 106,  112, 
120,  134,  139,  141,  155,  159,  176,  177,  182, 
195,  211,  217,221,234,  245,249,  254,255, 
257,  260,  261,  263,  264,  272,  273,  278,  235, 
292,  296,  297,  300,  301. 
Cushman,  113. 
Cutler,  3,  18,  50,  70,  84,  110. 


Dnlrymple,  325. 
Dalton,  242,  250,  251. 

Dana,  11,  13,  23,  26,  29,  78,  95,  103,  116,  122, 
130,  145,  152,  ISO,  186,  225,  232,  234,  243, 
248,  254,  255,  257,  260,  261,  265,  272,  273, 
279,  294,  295,  296,  2w7,  301. 
Darrington,  67,  81. 
Dashwood,  301. 
Davis,  17,  35,  48,  53,  68,  83,  107,  135,  138,  207, 

221,285. 
(  Daw,  285. 

|  Dawes,  34,  49,  69,171,292. 
<!  Daws,  82,  87,  97,  110,  133, 172,196,  208,  209, 
2  5,  216,  219,  233,  239,  241,  242,  250,  267, 
I.         289,  293. 
Dawson,  19. 
Day,  112. 

Deberdt,  190,  191,  212,  255,  257,  272,  299. 
Deberts,  272. 
Decoster,  171,292. 
Demming,  80,  172. 
Dennie,  95. 
Deshon,  268. 
Dexter,  2,  33,  47,  66. 
Dock,  The,  19,  48,  57,  58,  64,  65, 144. 
Town.  48,  58,  62. 
Dolbear,  47,  66,  79,  97,  105,  130,  163,  200, 

233,  266,  283. 
Dolbeare,  2,  7,  17,  24,  32,  45. 
Dorchester,  40,  46,  282. 
Dorrington,  49. 
Doubt,  117. 
Down,  133. 

Downe,  2,  8,  9,  U,  18,  34,  74,  82,  108,  114, 
131. 
Downing,  3. 
Dowse,  22,  95. 
Drowne,  171. 
Dudley,  288. 
Duncan,  234. 
Dunkerfield,  70.     * 
Dupee,  3,  12,  20. 

Dyer,  3,  70,  83,  109,  132,  166,  203,  204,  233, 
235,  269. 


Index  to  Names. 


329 


Eaton,  165. 
Eayres,  2.  18. 

Edes,  34,  82,  107,  130,  150,  158,  167,  300. 
Edmunds,  132,  166,  203,  234,  268. 
Edwards,  6,  21,  35,  50,  51,  6S,  74,  80,  96,  110, 
133,  199,  246,  2S5. 

\  EliDt,  26,  31,  45,  211,  245,  284. 

)  Elliot,  7S,  84,  96, 104, 114, 141, 181, 212. 
Ellis,  88,  109,  132,  166,  204,  235,  269. 
Emms,  84,  240. 
Empson,  288. 

England,  44,  175,  190, 193,  196,  258,  259,  262, 
2S7,  321. 

(  Erveing,  212. 

jErving,  11,  26,  95,  152,  153,  176,206,207, 

f         245, 284. 
Europe,  178. 

J  Eusiice,  18. 

i  Eustis,  69. 
Eveleigh,  167. 
Eveleth,  2. 
Eyres,  269. 

Fairfield,  6,  21,  24,  35,  51,  68,  81,  87,  10S,  131, 

165,203,237,242,268. 
Fa  lias,  69. 
Faneuil,  139. 
Farmer,  83,  291. 
Fenno,  6,  19,  37,  52,  72,  85,  86,   112,  135,  167, 

205,  237,  271. 
Ferry,  Charlestown,  8. 

Old  Salutation,  195. 
Fessenden,  267. 
Fisher,  69,  96, 105. 
Fitch,  50,  107,  135, 138,  142. 
Flacrg,  19,  236. 

Flaits,  The,  89,  99, 100,  101,  196. 
Fleet,  49,  69. 
Fletcher,  69,  105,  240. 
Flogg,  199. 
Floyd,  86,  93. 
Flucker,  2,  7.  10, 16,  17,  23,  32,  36,  40,  45,  47, 

60,  85,  90,  114,  126,  136,  140,  141,  142,  153, 

ISO,  212,  245,  248,  284. 
Foot,  3. 

Ford,  2,  18,  34,  50,  69. 
Forsyth,  3,  18,  34,  82. 
Fortification,  The,  68,  79,  189,  196,  208,  209, 

219. 
Foster,  2,  17,  24,  35, 114,  131,  142,  145,  267. 
Fowle,  236. 
Foye,  133. 
Frankliu,  299. 
Frary,  170,  190. 
Freeman,  163. 

Gabriel,  198. 

Gage,  297,  299,  300,  303,  307,  315,  317,  319, 

320,  322,  324. 
Gardner,  3,  6,  12, 18,  24,  35,  50,  51,  60,  66,  70, 

79,  82, 105, 109, 117, 130,  132,  163,  166,  199, 

204,  207,  235,  269. 
Gay,  3,  50,  70,  84,  110,  136,  168,  199,  204,  233, 

236,  270 
Gelaspy,  224. 
Gendall,  33. 
George,  239. 
Geyer,  171. 
Gibbins,  280. 
Gibbs,  48. 
Gideon,  195. 

Gill,  35,  69,  205,  236,  239,  273,  289,300. 
Goal,  The,  291. 

County,  281. 
Goldthwait,  1,  6,  13,  31,  46,  48,  53,  64,  55,  67, 

76,  73,  120,   136,   140,   142,   153,  179,  181, 

185,  20>,  206,  207,  212,  214,  222,  236,  237, 

238,  241,  248,  250,  270,  282,  294. 
Goodinir,  266. 
Gorden^oe,  153,154,  164. 
Gore,  105,  207,  233,  234,  266,  277. 
Gould,  16?,  292. 
Grainary,  The,  4,  6,  84. 


Granary,  The,  19,  22,  37,   38.  52,  71,  72,85, 
110,  112,  135,  167,  168,  204,  205,  236,  237, 
270,  271. 
Grant,  1,  2,  4,  9,  13,  15,  21,  26,  36,  45,  51,  66, 
67,  81,  87,  101,  108,  114, 134,  143,  144,  150, 
153,  180,  198,  230,  285. 
Gray,  2,  3,  11,  18,  26,  34,  35,  38,  50,  52,  53,  70, 
71,   80,  82,   K4,  90,  98,  103,   105,   106,  108, 
110,  114,  125,  132,  136,  138,  141,  153,  154, 
155,  157, 165,  167.  177,  180,  181,  203,  205, 
208,  212.  234,  236,  239,  245,  268,  270,  284. 
f  Greanleaf,  161. 
Greanleaff,  161,  172,  187,  197,  233,  239,  243, 
261,  266. 
J  Greanleaffe,  111. 
**  Greenleaf,  11,  26,  66. 
Greenleafe,  35. 
Greenleaff,  136,  221. 
Greenleaffe,  95. 
Great  Britain,  15,  33,  36,  37,  41,  44,  104,  120, 
121,  122,  154,  155,  173,  176,  17m,  182,  183, 
184,  186,  191,  228,  229,  243,  256,  286,  287, 
289  297   299  309   324. 
Green,"48i  61,  62,  67,  69,  76,  84,  85,  90,  114, 

116, 142,  152,  167,  234,  267,  277. 
Greene,  4,  5,  7,  9,  11,  19,  20,  23,  53. 
Greenleaf,  see  Greanleaff. 
Greenleafe,  see  Greanleaff. 
Greenleaff,  see  Greanleaff. 
Greenleaffe,  see  Greanleaff. 
f  Greenough,  2,  17,  34,  35,  48,  131,  132. 
J  Grenough,  50,  08,  69,  80,  S2,  83,   105,  107, 
)  108, 135, 140,  163,  166,  198,  203,  233,  234, 

t         246,  266,  268.  ■ 

Greenwood,  29,  33, 151,171,  236,  246,  2S5. 
Grenough,  see  Greenough. 
Gridley,  95,  159,  234. 
Grozier,  117. 

t  Hail,  5,133,  164,  198,  239,  267. 
|  Uale,  17,33.  49,  67,  81,  95,  106. 
Uall,34,  83,  93,  242,280. 

Hall,  Faneuil,  1,  10,  15,  16,  22,  28,  29,  30,  31, 
40,53,54,59,  61,  79,87,  8S,  96,  102, 
104,111,112,  113,123,  125,  126,  129, 
139,  141,  148,  152,  153,  154,  155,  157, 
158,   161,  162,  170,  171,  172,  174,  175, 
176,  179,  186,  190,  191,  194,  195,  196, 
197,205,210,  2L1,  212,   215,218,219, 
220,  222,  225,  227,   230,   232,  244,  250, 
252,  253,  257,  259,  264,   265,  277,   i91, 
294,  295,  297,  301,  302. 
Liberty,  312. 
Town,  313,  320. 
Hallifax,  25S,  259,  307,  319,  325. 
Hallowell,41,  114,  123,  129,  187,  240. 
I  Hammatt,  78,  80,  96,  105,  130. 
I  Hammett,  3,  163,  214. 
Hamock,  46. 

Hancock,  10,  22,  45,  78,  85,  95,  114,  119,  126 
130,  135,  139,  140,  157,   159,  162,   170,  172 
174,  176,  177,  179,  181,  182,  181,  187,  189 
195,196,  197,  199,  206,207,211,212,215 
232,  2  '3,  23^,  241,  243,  245,  253,  255,  257 
260,  261,  263,  266,  267,  273,  278,  282,  285 
292,  294. 
Harris,  103, 129, 133. 
Harrod,  3,  18,  50,  ^40,  277,  290. 
Harskins,  70,  83,  109,  132,  166,  204,  269. 
Hart,  270. 
Hase,  3,  83. 
Haskins,  19.  50,  235. 
I  Hawes,  70. 
/  Haws,  109. 
Hayes,  70. 

Head,  Deer  Island,  97,  149. 
Heath,  222. 
Helver,  19,  36. 
Henchman,  18,  34,  49. 
Henderson,  17,  34,  49,  69,  107,  131,  250,  301, 

303. 
Ilenshaw,  1 ,  9,  10,  13,  16,  22,  31 ,  40,  44,  46,  4T, 
63,  CI,  62,  78,  87,  0-.,  97,  99,    101,  104,  113, 
115,  119,  124,  130,  141,  142,  157,  15.',  162, 


330 


City  Document  No.  88. 


176,   ISO,   181,  187,  139,  221,  236,  246, 24«, 
252,  253,  255,  266,  273,  278,  279,   282,  294, 
297,  301,  302,  303. 
Howes,  1,  2,  9,  10,  13,  16,  81,  35,  44. 
Hews,  47,  50,  65,  78,  79,  82,  105,  112,  133, 

139,  142,  170,  190. 
Hughes,  53. 
Hicks,  12,  14,  24,  42,  56. 
Highway,  The,  41,  63,  70,  79,  119,  148,  214, 

280. 
Hill,  1,  4,  9,  13,  26,  45,  69,  78,  86,  93,  95,  115, 
119,  123,  126,  127,  131,  136,  137,  147, 
181,  208,  214,219,  222,  238,240,  266, 
267,  280,  289,  293. 
ITM,  Beacon,  10,  14,  119,  124,  149,  260. 
Fort,  10. 
Hillsborough,  300,  307,  308. 
IlilUtburrough,  311,  313,  31S,  319,320,323, 
324. 

llitchburne,  83,  133,  277. 
llobbs,  4,  19,36. 
Hodgden,  70,  83. 
Tlodson,  119,  149. 

Ilolbrook,  11,  24,  42,  53,  59,  75,  94,  116,  146, 
185,  186,  207,  213,  246,  247,  271,  283. 
Holiday,  20,  21,  34. 
Ilolliday,  3,8,  11,  13. 

Hollydav,  50,  70,  151,  165,  202,  206,  220,  239, 
265,268,291. 
f  Holmes,  82,  105,  107,  135,172. 
\  Homes,  163,  168,  199,  204,  233,  235,  263,270, 
(  285, 290. 

Ilolvoke,  12,  24,  43,  59,  75,  94,  115,  145,  185, 

213,  247. 
Ilomans,  167. 
Homes,  see  Holmes. 
Hood,  297,  299,  300,  303,  321,  324. 
Hooper,  11,  78. 
Iloskins,  4. 

Hospital,  Hancock's,  139. 
House,  Alms,  6,  7,  22,  25,  38,  39,  52,  68,  71, 
72,  74,  84,  85,  86,  87,  91,  98,  110, 
111,  118,  136,   167,  170,205,  23, 
218,  236,  253,  270,  271,  275,  283, 
291. 
Custom,  173. 
Court,  190,  286,  291. 
Gun,  217,  220,  273. 
Manufactory,  322. 
Meeting,  Dr.  Chauncev's,  65. 
Mr.  Byles's,  71,  84. 
Old  Brick  Meeting,  71. 
Old  North  Meeting,  62,  71. 
Powder,  176. 
Town,  46,  49,  54,56,  60,61,  62,  63,65, 

69,  72,  315,  320. 
"Work,  6,  24,  25,  27,  33,  87,  227,  275, 
291,  323. 
How,  193. 

Howard,  33,  242,  245,  269,  284. 
Hubbard,  5,  10,  15,  23,  23,  30,  31,  32,  39,  65, 
72,  73,  79,  95,  102,  103,  104,  113,  114,  123, 
127,  129,  140,  141,  153,  180,  198,  212,  245, 
248, 284. 
Hudson,  14. 
Hughes,  see  Hewes. 
Hunt,  10,  213,246,  282,  283. 
Hurd,  18,  34,  49,  236,  270. 
Hutchinson,  26,  30,  45,  79,  80,  85,  103,  133, 
134,  140,  145,  179,  184,  197,  203,  207,  222, 
233,  267,  298. 
Hyllier,  50. 

Inches,  30,  48,  66,  69,  80,  83,  87,  101,  105,  107, 
130,  135,  163,  180,  197,  198,  200,  221,  222, 
225,  241,  248,  250,  252,  253,  255,  257,  266, 
282,  294. 

Ireland,  226. 

Island,  Deer,  15,  220,  237. 
Noddles,  123. 

Islands,  West  India,  41. 

Ivors,  163. 

Jackson,  1,  2,  4,  9, 10, 13, 16,  17, 18,  19, 31, 34, 


35,  38,  40,44,  46,  47,  48,  n,  52,  53,  56,  61, 
62,68,  70,  78,83,81,  104,  105, 107, 110,  114, 
117,  1  !0,  131,  134,  13">,  i:<8,  142,  162,  1G3, 
164,  167,  168,  176,  181,  184,  187.  197,  204, 
232,  235,  240,  244,  253,  255,  266,  270,  282, 
290,  294,  295,  297,  301. 

Jarvis,  292. 

Jeffries,  2,  0,  7,  12,  17,  22,  25,  26,  33,  34,  38, 
43,  46,  47,  52,  57,  59,  66,  71,  74,  76,  78,  80, 
84,85,86,95,  105,110,112,  114,  116,  lis, 
130,  136,  138,  142,  146,  164,  167,  182,  186, 
199,  202,  203,  205,  209,  214,  215,  218,  234, 
236,  240,  246,  247,  267,  270,  273,  284,  285, 
290. 

Jenkins,  19,  50,  51,  70,  83,  109,  132,  165,  166. 
204,  23"-.  269. 

Jennirgs,  133. 

Jepsou,  207. 

Jervis,  114. 
<  Johonnot,  290. 
|  Johonnott,  142. 

Jones,  114,  142,181. 

Joy,  166,  203,  235,  246,  269,  277. 

Kast,  117. 

Kert,  40,  60,  87,  103,  106,  153,  159,  184,  180, 

208,  214,  215,  217,  219,  240,  242,  243,  248. 

254,  255,  260,  282,  290,  294,  297,  301. 
Kilbey,  81,  174. 
Kinney,  81,  106. 
Kneeland,  6,  2J,  21,  35,  50,  51,  6*.  81,  87,  94, 

93.  108,  131,  145,  165,  203,  237,  26H. 
Knight,  199. 
Knox,  83,  109,  132,  166,  204,  235,  269. 

Lane,  256. 
Lane  Bear,  170. 
Joliffs,  137. 
Long,  73,  137,  289. 
Rawson'8,49. 
Langdon,  25,  43,  59,  75,  94,  116,  146,  185. 
Langley,  50,  69,  82,  10S. 
Lazinby,  291. 
Leaverct,  52,  71,  233,  266. 
Leveret,  100,  135,  172,  243. 
Lcverett,  2,  3,  17,  84,  107,  207. 
Leo,  18,  70. 
Leveret,  see  Leaveret. 
Lcverett,  sec  Leaveret. 
Lewis,  54,  65,  78,  79,  96,  105,  112,  139,  142. 
Lilly,  190. 
Lindscy,  164. 
Liswell,  33. 
Little,  298. 
Lloyd,  181. 
Loyd,  117,  123,  233. 
Loyde,  115. 
London,  37,  41,  44,  190,  212,  218,  224,231,  256, 

272,  298,  299,  303. 
Longlev,  34. 
Lord,  117. 
Loring,  246,  269. 
Lothrop,  277,  284. 
Louisbourg,  15. 

f  Lovel,  11,  24,  42,  43,  58,  59,  75,  88,  92,  93, 
J  94,  115,  116,  125,  126,  145,  146,  165,  185, 

}         209,  212,  213,  246,  247,  283. 
(.Lovell,  126. 

(  Low,  3,  17,  34, 132,  166,  203,  235,  269,  279, 
{         280,  281. 
(  Lowe,  2,  108. 
Lowder,  70. 

Lowell,  18,  34,  50,  110,  199. 
Loyd,  see  Lloyd. 
Loyde,  see  Lloyd. 
Lucas,  244,  269,  270. 
Lyde,  114,  234. 

Mackay,  240,  266,  278. 

I  Malcom,  190. 

f  Malcomb,  172, 187,  193,  212,  254,  255,  261. 
Maiden,  232. 

(  Man,  136. 

|  Mann,  83. 


Index  to  Names. 


331 


Mansfield,  181. 
Marblebead,  181. 
Market,  The,  302. 

Market,  Faneuil  Hall,  3,  12, 16,  19,  20,  23,  27, 
28,  29,  30,  33,  43,  48,  59,  64,  90, 
110,  171,  210,  236,  237. 

South,  170. 
Marsh,  266. 
Marsh,  The,  279,  280,  281. 

Salt,  279,  280. 
Marshall,  09,  83,  107,  133,  135,  163,  172,  199, 

233,  266,  285. 
Mars  ten,  233. 

<  Martin,  110,  270. 

|  Martyn,  207. 
Mason,  33,  47,  6"-,  70,  ?0,  105,  130,  163,  197, 

2j7,  266,  273,  282,  294. 
Masters,  83,  109.  132, 166,  204,  235,  269. 
Mather,  16,  26,  79,  96,  114,  141,  181,  197,  212, 

245,  284. 
May,  49,  63,  198,  209,  233,  266. 
Mayes,  110. 
Mayhew,96,  114,  181. 
McAlpine,  164. 
McClure,  40,  74,  81,  107,  124. 
McDanicl,  12,  13,  302. 

I  Mclntire,  17,  34. 

|  Mclutyre,  49,  163. 
Mcintosh,  132,  166,  203,  235. 
McLane,  19,  171. 
McMastcrs,  298. 
Mein,  164,298. 
Meriot,  66. 
Messinger,  171. 
Mill  Pond,  147. 
Mill  Stream,  279,  280. 
Mills,  33. 
Mills,  North,  282. 

The  Grist,  135,  147,  241,  253,  279,  232, 
294,  295. 
Minot,  30. 
Montressor,  324. 
Moore,  18,  35,  49,  69,  106. 
Moreton,  246. 
Muff  itt,  110,  167. 
Mullineux,  119,  161,  180,  261,  273,  276,  277, 

279,  291. 
Murray,  243. 

Neck,  The,  12,  20,  68,  86,  93,  115,  119,  123, 
126,  137,  144, 145, 150,  196,  208,  209, 
241. 
Boston,  86,  87,  93,  125,  126,  127,  136, 
137, 145,  147,  150,  189, 1«0,  209,215, 
216. 
New  England,  32,  43,  173,  177,  253,  260. 

Hampshire,  1,  10,  16,  31,  46,  65,  79,  104, 
117,  129,  162,  197,  232,  252,  260,  265, 
294,  302. 
London,  181. 

York,  258,  259.  264,  324,  325. 
Newell,  30,  38,  52,  70,  110,  162,  187,  197,  199, 

208,  232,  235,  252,  285. 
Newman,  1u3. 
Nichols,  2,  18,  34,  50, 68,  82, 108, 132,  166,  203, 

234,  2G8. 
Noland,  269. 
Nowell,  133,  269. 

Noyes,  3.  45,  74,  78,  82,  89,  108,  131,  165,  203, 
222,  237,  26S. 


Oliver,  1,  4,  6,  7,  10,  11,  16,  21,  23,  26,  31 
47,  78,  127,  129,  141,  245,  280. 

Orr,  171. 

Osborn,  11,114. 

Otis,  40,  45,  43,  53, 54,  55, 56,  67, 67,  68,  73 
78,  79,  86,  88,  89,  97,  99,  102,  103,  104, 
115,  119,  120,  123,  124,  125,  126,  129, 
141,  1)8,  151,  152,  155,  158,  157,  158, 
162,  174,  175,  176,  177,  178,  182,  186, 
189,  191,  194,  195,  196,  197,  206,  209, 
211,  212,  215,  219,  220,  230,232,243, 
215,  246,  248,  252,  253,  255,  257,  259, 
283,264,  285,  ^67,  270,272,  277,  278, 
23J,  285,  293,  294,  297,  298,  301,  302. 


i  44, 


,  76, 
113, 
140, 
159, 
187, 
210, 
214, 
260, 


Owen,  S3,  109,  132,  166,  204,  235,  269. 

Paddock,  19,  35,  50,  70,  82,  135,  163,  199,  233, 

261,  266. 
Page,  163,  236,  270. 
f  Pain,  2,  18. 
I  Paine,  34,  50. 
Payne,  82,  108,  132,  134,  136,  171,  180, 1S1, 
189,  197,  199,  203,  214,  219,  221,  222,  225, 
2:S8,  241,  246,  248,  250,  254, 255,  257,  282, 
294. 
Palfrey,  35. 

Parker,  5,  17,  33,  34,  49,  67,  69,  114,  133,  163. 
Parkman,  181. 

Partridge,  105,  207,  233,  239,  266. 
Patten,  4,  5,  17. 
Paxton,  304,  305,  307. 
Payne,  see  Pain. 

Payson,  8,  21,  36,  51,  67,  81,  92,  108,  134,  142, 
143,  144, 150,  151,  165,  201,  202,  203,  217, 
220,  291,  292,  293,  295,  300. 
Pease,  132,  166,  204,  235,  269. 
Peck,  2,  128,  129,266. 
Pecker,  117,  149,  165,  203,  237,  268. 
Pemberton,  10,  26,  72,  78,  96,  114,125,141, 
176,181,212,245,252,253,  255,  266,  273, 
282,  284,  294. 
Peirce,  267,290. 

|  Piirpoint,  20,  80,  151,  172,  272,  273. 
/  Pierpoint,  209. 
Perkins,  34,  49,  78,  114,  117,  123,  131, 181,  277, 

285. 
Perry,  196,  208. 
'Phillips,  1,  2,  3,  7,  9,  16,  17,  22,  23,  28,  29, 
31,  32,  33,  34,  35,  40,  45,  46,  47,  48,  53, 
56,  57,  61,  63,  64,  65,  66,  69,  73,  79,  80, 
87,  90,  104,  110,  111,  119,  134,  135,  13rt, 
14.',  145,  162,  163, 168,  179,  180,  181, 184, 
187,  196,  197,  204,  232,  235,  -Ibl,  269, 273, 
L         285. 

Pico,  36,  50,  70,  83,  109,  132, 166,  204,  235, 269. 
\  Pidgeon,  172. 
I  Pigeon,  80,  98,  111. 
Tierpoint,  see  Peirpoint. 
Pigeon,  see  Pidgeon. 
Pitcher,  171. 
Pitt,  175. 
Pitts,  2,  7,  17,  32,  33,  45,  181,  197,  234,  245, 

248,  251,270,  2S4. 
Tlace,  The  Market,  55. 
Plymouth,  169,  170,  172. 
Point  Gallop's,  279,  281. 

Shirley,  15,  103. 
Pool,  267. 

Potter,  4,  88,  109,  132,  166,  204,  235,  269. 
Powell,  244,  266,293. 
Pownall,  26,  31 ,  38,  39,  44,  299. 
j  Prat,  10,  23,  36,  46. 
I  Pratt,  220,  237,  238. 
Presson,  240. 
Preston,  198. 
Trice,  110,  135,  136,  167,   196,  199,  203,  209, 

214,  222,  226,  236,  238,  289,  290,  293. 
Trince,  3. 
Procter,  12,  24,  43,  59,  75,  94,  107,  115,  144, 

185,213,246,  247,  283. 
Trout,  281. 
Province,  Massachusetts  Bay,  32,  55, 157, 159, 

177,  178,  244,  254,  260. 
Pynchon,  117. 

Quincy,  180,  189,  221,  225,  254,  255,  261,  272, 
273,  285. 

Randolph,  173. 

Ranstead,  18,  35. 

Ray,  3,  18,34,  35,  50,69. 

Revear,  165. 

Rhode  Island,  1,  10, 16,  31,  46,65,  79,104, 129, 

102,  197,  232,  252,  260,  265,  294,  302. 
Rhodes,  3. 
Richardson,  3,  131, 135, 163, 194,  199,  233,  241, 

250,  268. 


332 


City  Document  No.  88. 


Richie,  67,  74. 

Kidgway.lS,  50,  106. 

River  Napousit,  40. 

Road,  The  Great,  216. 

Rubbins,  294. 

Roberts,  117. 

Robinson,  315. 

Rogers,  17, 19,  33,  49,  66,  81,  167, 198,  298. 

Rowe,  2,  5,  7,  17,  22,  23,  24,  26,  31,  34,  35,  38, 
48,  52,68,  71,  83,  84,  85,  98,104,  107,  115, 
126,  134,  135,  136,  140,  151,  152,  154,  157, 
159,  163,  164,  171,  176,  ISO,  187,  189,  195, 
196,  197,  198,  206,  212,  221,  224,  225,  232, 
233,  241,  249,  253,  255,  256,  257,  260,  261, 
266,  268. 

Roxbury,  216,  255,  282,  315. 

Ruddock,  8,11,21,23,  29,  36,  51,  53,  61,  62, 
67,  81,  92,  103,  105,  106,  111,  115,  116,  126, 
130,  133,  135,  142,  143,  152,  157,  159,  162, 
170,  174,  179,  181,  186,  197,  200,  202,  205, 
215,  221,  232,  253,255,  261,  266,  273,  274, 
279,  282,  292,  294. 

Ruggles,  150,  165,  171,  172,  201,  202,  206,  220, 
239,  268,  291,  292,  299. 

Russell,  18,  49. 

Russia,  227. 

Salmon,  6,  17,  33,  49,  66,  81, 106,  133, 163, 164, 

198,  2:19,  267. 
Salt,  70,  83,  109, 132,  166,  204,  235,  269. 
Salter,  129,  133,  134,  142,  143,  144,  150,  151, 

165,  201,  202,  206,  216,  220,  239,  268,  291. 
Saltonstall,  181. 
Savage,  2,  3,  22,  38,  47,  50,  54,  65,  78,  79,  81, 

112,  114,  139,  142,  220,  239,  268,  291. 
School,  North  Gramar,  58,  115,  145. 

Grammar,  11,  12,  13,  15,24,  25, 
26,  42,  43,  46,  59,  75,  78, 
94,  96,  114,  116,  142,  146, 
181,  185,  200,  208,  209,  210, 

212,  213,  246,  283,  285. 
Lattin,  282. 

Writing,  11,  12,  14,  24,  25,  26, 
43,  46,  56,  59,  75,  78,  94,  95, 
96,  114,  115,  116,  142,  146, 
181,  185,212,  213,  242,  246, 
247,  283,  285. 
South  Gramer,  58. 

Grammar,  11, 12,  24,  26,  42, 43, 
46,  59,  75,  78,  94,  96,  114, 
115,  116,  125,  126,  142,  145, 
146,  181,  185,209,210,  212, 

213,  246,  247,  283,  285. 
Writing,  11,  12,  26,  46,  53,  56, 

75/78,96,114,118,125,142, 
181,  212,  271,  285. 
Writing,  11,  12,  24,  25,  26,  43,  46,  59, 
75,  78,  94,  96,  114,  115,  116,  142, 
145,  146,  181,  185,  186,  207,   212, 
213,  246,  247,  283,  284. 
Scollay,  1,  2,  4,  9,  10, 13, 16, 17, 19,  31,  35,  38, 
44,  47,  48,  52,  60,  65,  68,  70,  78,  79,  83,  84, 
96,  98,  104,  107,  110,  112, 114, 130, 135, 139, 
171,  233,  266,  285. 
Sconce,  The,  99. 
Scotland,  226,  287. 
Scott,  70,  84,  107,  110, 132,  163,  198. 
Scutt,  8,  15. 

Sergeant,  95,  108,  132,  166,  203;  234,  268. 
Bewail,  11,  26,  45,  46,  48,  49,  53,  65,  78,  79,  80, 
96,  102,  104,  112,  114,  125,  130,  135,  139, 
141,  142,  159,  162,  181,  184,  197,  211,  212, 
232,245,252,285. 
Shaw,  131,  142,172,199. 
(  Sheaff,  187. 
>  Sheaffe,  100. 
Shed,  67, 171. 
Shelburne,  303. 
<  Shc-pard,  3. 
j  Shepherd,  166,  204,235. 
Sherburne,  119,  277. 
(  Simans,  204. 
]  Siruens,  109, 167,235. 
(Simons,  133,279,280. 


(  Simkins,  172,  199. 
(  Simpkins,  17. 
Simmons,  147. 
Simms,  83,  269. 
Simons,  see  Simans. 
Simpkins,  see  Simkins. 
Simpson,  3,  233,  285. 
I  Ski  liens,  234. 

I  Skillins,  82,  108, 138,  166,  203,  268. 
Skinner,  136,  108,  204,  236,  270. 
Smith,  2,  3,  7,  17,  32,47,  48,  50,  66,  80,  105, 

130,  136,  163,  181,  197,  198. 
Smyth,  270. 
Snelling,  266. 
Sollien,  70. 
Sparhawk,  181,245. 
Spear,  3,  19,  35,  50,  70,  83,  103,  109,  132,  166, 

198,  204,  235,  269. 
Spooner,  85,  267. 
Sprague,  78,  117,  142,  246. 
Square,  Dock,  30,  41,  54,  55,  62,  210. 

Market,  302. 
St.  James,  178. 
Steel,  104. 

Stevenson,  164,  166,  204,  235. 
Stimson,  163. 

Stoddard,  18,  34,  50,  51,  70,  236,  270. 
Storer,  1,  7,  16,  32,  33,  45,  56,  64,  80,  105,  130, 

163,  197,  2u7,  239,  273. 
Storey,  9,  13,  22,  24,  26,  38,  52,  64,  55,  60,  61, 

62,  71,  85,  86,  67,  95,  110,  111,  135. 
Street,  Ann,  20,  27,  39,  214. 
Back,  23. 
Bacon,  49. 

Battery  March,  128,  129. 
Bennet,  219. 
Bread,  128. 
Cambridge,  115. 
Cross,  23. 
Fish,  111,  115. 
Kilby,  206. 
King,  41,  89. 
Leaveret,  206. 

Milk,  128,  129,  177,  214,  242,  250. 
Orange,  20,  216. 
Prince,  8. 
Purchase,  57,  58. 

Queen,  11,  12,  24,  26,  43,  46,  59,  75,  78, 
94,  96,  114,  115,  142,  145,  146,  181, 
185,  212,  213,  246,  247,  283,  2S5. 
The  New,  242. 
Union,  23,  27. 

Water,  87,  94,  97,  98,  177,  206,  242, 
250. 
Sutten,  70. 
Sweetser,  233. 

Swift,  24,  26,  46,  145,  172,  240,  241,  250. 
fSymmes,  2,18,  34. 

J  Symms,  67,  69,  82,  108,  124,  132,  165,  166, 
)         203,  234,  242,  267,  268. 
[  Syms,  49,  50. 

Tavern,  Golden  Ball,  137, 144. 

Salutation,  2J4,  222. 
Tayler,  24,  26,  52,  87,  138,  163,  164. 
( thacher,  9,  23,  26,  29,  33,  40,  46,  67,  76,  78, 
}         85,  86,  87,  88,  90,  95,  99,  101,  113,  120. 
(  Thatcher,  141,  157. 
Thather,  60. 

Thayer,  2,  5, 17,  19,  33,  34,  35,  49,  50,  66,  69, 
70,   81,   82,   106,   108,   109,    132,  133,  166, 
172, 199,  203,  234,  268,  269. 
Thomas,  5,  17,  33,  48,  49,  66,  81,  106,  133, 174, 

267,  290. 
Thomlinson,  41,  43,  44. 
Thompson,  165. 
Thornton,  171. 
Thwing,  79,  80,  88,105,  111,  114,  130,  142,  181. 

{Tileston,  25,  35,  43,  75,  108,  116,  132,  146, 
153,  154,  171,  185,  209,  213,  247,283,284, 
292. 
Tileston,  3,  12,  49,  56,  59,  94,  95,  105,  146. 
Tyleston,  69. 
Tinney,  83, 110. 


Index  to  Names. 


333 


Torbet,  164. 

Torrey,  IS,  35,  51,  68,  107,  108,  131,  135,  163, 
165,  198,  203,  237. 

Town  Slip,  129. 

Townsend,  IS,  95,  233. 

Treat,  3,  36,  50,  70,  83,  88, 109,  132, 133,  166. 

Trecothick,  299. 

Trott,  163. 

Trumbles,  226. 
Tuder,  86,  87,  88,  111,  136, 142, 168, 181,  204, 

236,  240,  241,  270,  295. 
Tudor,  1,  7,  16,  32,  45,  47,  66,  103. 

Turell,  266. 

Turner,  174,  203,  234,  269. 

Tyler,  1,  2,  5,  7,  11,  13,  16,  17,  20,  22,  23,  28, 
32,  35,  36,  40,  45,  46,  47,  48,  57,  58,  60,  66, 
68,  73,  78,  79,  83,  86,  87,  88,  97,  101,  104, 
105,  106, 1Q7,  111,  113,  116,  120,  125,  126, 
130, 131, 134, 135,  138,  140,  141,  142,  145, 
153,  154, 157, 163,  176,  199,  200,  207,  208, 
215,  233,  248,  254,  255,  266. 

Tyleston,  see  Tileston. 

Tyng,  10,23,36,  280. 

Usher,  133, 198,  239,  267. 

Vassal,  246. 

(  Vergoose,  3, 18,  34,  69,  82, 108, 132, 166, 203, 

|         234, 268. 

(  Vergose.  50. 
"Vernon,  240. 

(  Yinal,  12,  25,  43,  59,  75,  76,  94, 116, 118, 119. 

|  Vinall,  56. 

"Wakefield,  96. 

"Waldo,  26,  80,  114,  131, 138,164,197, 198,  199, 

233,  239,  266,  267. 
Wales,  3,  18,  34,  35,  50,  69,  82,  198. 
"Walker,  1,  7,  16,  23,  32,  45,  47,  66,  74,  82,  107, 
108,  130, 132,  166,  203,  234,  268. 

( "Wallace,  17,  267. 

|  Wallis,  33,  198,  239. 
Walley,  3,  82,  241,  266,  285. 
"Ward,  271. 
"Warland,  207. 
"Warren,  117,  241,  248,  254,  255,  257,  260,  261, 

272,  279,  285,  297,  301. 
"Waterhouse,  38,  48. 
Waterman,  138,  166,  204,  235,  269. 
"Waters,  82,  171. 
Webb,  34,  110,  165,  167,  199. 

(  "Welch,  18,  34,  49,  82, 110, 165. 

I  "Welsh,  2. 


Weld,  17,  49. 
"Welds,  106. 
f  Well,  153. 
I  Welles,  40,  45. 

<J  Wells,  26,  61,  62,  66,  67,  76,  78,  81,88,  97, 
103,  104,  105,  106,  114,  151, 152, 153, 157, 
t.         158,  184,  186,  207,  242,  261,  277. 
Welsh.    See  Welch. 
"Wendell,  11,  26,  35,  48,  69,  80,  83,  107,  135, 

163,  172, 181,  199,  233,  266,  285,  299. 
( "Wentworth,  78,  97,  98,  115,  119,  123, 125, 
\         126,  127,  128,  142,  147,  238. 
( "Whentworth,  86,  93. 
Westminster,  287. 
Wharf,  Long,  89. 
Wharfe,  Alford's,  100. 
Long,  90,  101. 
Longe,  98. 
Scarlets,  99. 
Wharff,  Hancock's,  256,  309. 
Wbeatly,  41. 
Wheeler,  18,  133, 167. 
Wheelright,  97. 

Wheelwright,  2,  45,  70,  83,  98, 109, 132, 166, 
204,  235,  269. 
Whentworth.    See  Wentworth. 
White,  2,  6,  18,  21,  83,  109, 132,  166,  168,  197, 

204,  233,  235,  236,  242,  266,  269,  270. 
Whitefield,  104. 
Whiting,  142. 

Whitwell,  74,  80,  82,  105,  109,  130,  131,  132, 
163,  166,  197,  204,  233,  235,  239,  241,  266, 
269,  273,  277,  289,  293. 
Whitworth,  117,  285. 

Williams,  65,  71,  84,  88,  94,  107, 115, 135, 138, 

163,  166, 167, 181, 199,  204,  205,  207,  21-2, 

219,  221,  222,  233,  234,  235,  236,  238,  269, 

305,  307. 

Wingfield,  234. 

Winslow,  2,  11,  26,  29,  64,  78,  131,  142, 149, 

162,  221. 
Winter,  78, 110, 133,  171. 
Winthrop,  114,  280. 

f  Wiswall,  11, 18,  24,  34,  42,  43,  49,58,75,  94, 
\         115, 145, 185. 
(  Wiswell,  200,  236,  270. 


Young,  253,  255. 
Yougust,  117. 


Surnames  Omitted. 


Limers,  96. 


INDEX  TO   SUBJECTS. 


Accounts,  to  examine,  5,  6,  7,  22,  34,  38,  52, 
84-5,86,91,  110,  111,118,134,136, 
139,  153,  167,  170,  200,  205,  218, 
222,  236,  239,  251,  270,  289,  293, 
300. 
reports  on,  6,  9,  13-14, 19, 25,  37,  38, 
44,  52,  57,  71-2,  85-6,   90-3,  138, 
143-4.   154,   167,    182,  200-2,  218, 
237,240,  271,  290. 
to  liquidate,  161,  170-1. 
Act,  for  taking  valuation  of  the  Province,  63. 
application  to  court  for,  to  remove  per- 
sons spreading  infectious  disease,  118. 
to  prevent  destruction  of  Beacon  Hill, 

119, 149. 
concerning  erection  of  wooden  building, 

149. 
Stamp.     (See  Stamp  Act.) 
"  declaring  the  right  and  liberties  of  the 

subject,"  etc.,  261,  262,  263,  264. 
concerning  Court  of  Admiralty,  287. 
Bankrupt.     (See  Bankrupt  Act.) 
Revenue.     (See  Revenue  Acts.) 
37,  Sec.  9.     (See  Anne,  Queen,  Act  of.) 
Admiralty,  Court  of.     (See  Court.) 
Agriculture,  121,  183. 

Alford's  -wharf,  100.     (See  also  Wharves.) 
Almshouse,  6,  7,  25,  38,  68,  71,  72,  86,  S7,  98, 
118,248,253,271,275,276. 
to  repair,  283. 
master  of  the,  74,  291. 
accounts  of,  91,  218,  275,  290. 

to  audit,  22,  38,  39,  52, 

71,  84,110,118,  136, 

138,    167,    205,   236, 

240,  270. 

money  advanced  to  town,  for  use 

of,  7,  22,  38,  52,  68,  71,  74, 84,  85, 

110,  111,  136, 167,  205,  236,  270. 

grain  to  purchase  for,  214,  248, 

253,  271. 
pavement  at,  91. 
town's  land  north  of,  170. 

title  of  town's  claim 
to,  disputed,  170.  (See 
also  Lands,  etc.) 
America,  153, 154, 155,  175,  176, 186,  191,  194, 
243,  244,  257,  259, 286, 287,  288,  297, 
298,  299,  307,  309, 324. 
British,  153,  222,  303. 
North,   175,  177,  178,  182,  183,   225, 

227,  287,  289. 
manufacturers  in,  to  encourage,  222, 
223-4. 
Anchors,  221,  223.     (See  also  Imports.) 
Anne,  Queen,  Act  of,  259. 
Ann  street,  20,27,  39,  214. 
Apparel,  221,  223,  224.     (See  also  Imports.) 
Archives,  157. 
Armories,  220,  248. 
Arms  and  ammunition,  91,  264,  320. 

to  be  cleansed,  320. 
Army,  standing,  263,  320. 
Artillery,  217,  220,  248,  273. 

officers   of,  273.      (See  also  Ord- 
nance.) 
Artists,  212,  218. 

Assayers,  3,  18,  50,  70,  84,  110,  136,  168,  204, 
236,  270. 


Assembly  or  Court,  general,  8, 10,  14,  22,  24, 
26,  33,  36,  37,  39,  40,  41,  42, 
43,  54,  55,  57,  59,  62,  63,  67, 68, 
72,  77,  86,  88,  90,  97,  98,  100, 
102, 104, 110, 112,  113, 117, 118, 
119,  120,  121,  122,  125,  128, 
137,  141,  142,  148,  149,  150, 
152,  155,  156,  157,  161,  162, 
174,  176,  177,  180,  182,  184, 
188,  190,  196,  211,  218,  232, 
244,  248,  250,  252,  257,  260, 
261,  262,  263,  272,  278,  279, 
285,  286,  289,  300,  302,  311, 
321. 
petition  to,  to  prefer,  54,  55, 62, 

68,  76,  128,  272. 
prorogation,  161. 
to  convene,  222-3,  260,  263. 
Assessors,  2,  6,  7,  9,  21,  22,  28-9,  33,  34,  39, 
42,  5),   52,   58,   67,    68,  71,     74, 
81,  82,  84,  91,  107-8,  111,  118,  131, 
137,  149, 158,  164-5,  170,  203,  206, 
217,  237,  241,  250,  252-3,  268,  270. 
books,  5,  21, 34,  36, 51 ,  67,  81, 107-8, 
134,    158,    164-5,   206,    217,    250, 
252-3. 
to  furnish  list  or  valuation  of  es- 
tates, 29,  42,  58. 
of  names    of    per- 
sons taxable,  217. 
Attorney-General,  149. 


Back  street,  23. 

Bacon  street.     (.See  Beacon  street.) 

Bankrupt  Act,  174,  180. 

repeal  of,  to  move,  180. 
Barbers'  powder,  etc.,  224. 
Barracks.     (See  Troops.) 
Battery,  north,  144,  151,  189. 
south,  42,  99. 
wharf,  151. 
Battery  March  street,  128-9,  214. 
Beacon  hill,  preservation  of,  10,  14, 119,  124, 
149. 

tar  barrels  at,  260. 
Beacon  street,  49. 
Bear  lane,  to  pave,  170. 
Bedlam.     (See  Insane,  hospital  for.) 
Bells,  ringing  of,  71. 
Bendal's  Cove,  279,  281. 
Benefactors,  public,  names  of,  enrolled,  139. 
Bennet  street,  engine  kept  in,  219. 
Bequests,  public,  126,  139,  179, 184,  207,  215. 
Bill  concerning  collecting  of  taxes,  98. 

copies  of,  to  distribute,  98.     (See  also 

Taxes.) 
Bankrupt,  to  frame,  184. 
copy  of,  relating  to  forstalling market,  to 
procure,  302. 
Bills  of  credit,  1,2,  10,16,  17,  31,33,  46,  47, 
48,  65,  66,  79, 104,  129,  162,  197,  199, 
216,  219,  220,  230,  232,  234,  252,  253, 
.     ■       260,  265,  267,  294,  295,  297,  301,  302. 
to  engross,  140. 
hand,  210. 
Board   of  Customs,   commissioners   of,   250, 

253,  254-5,  258.     (See  also  Custom.) 
Bonds.   (See  Sureties,  bonds  to  be  given  as.) 


Index  to  Subjects. 


335 


Boston,  1,  5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 22, 25, 26, 28, 
29,  31,  32,  34,  36,  39,  40,  43,  44,  45,  46,  54, 
55,  56,  57,  61,  63,  64,  65,  72,  76,  77,  78,  79, 
88,90,95,96,102,104,  112,  113,  114,  120, 
122,  123,  124,  125,  126,  127.  129,  139,  140, 
141,  142,  145,  14S,  149,  152,  153,  154,  155, 
157,  158,  159,  160,  162,  16S,  169,  172,  173, 
175,176,177,178,179,  180,  181,  186,  187, 
188,  189,  190,  191,  192,  193,  194,  195,  197, 
2t0,  211,  215,  216,  218,  219,  220,  222,  225, 
226-7,  230-1,  232,  244,  245,  249-50,  251, 
252,  253,  254,  256,  259,  260,  262,  264,  265, 
274,  277,  278,  279,  281,  282,  284,  290,  294, 
295,  297,  298,  300,  301,  302,  303,  307,  308, 
309,  310,  311,  312,  315,  317,  321,  322,  324, 
325. 

Boston  Harbor.     {See  Harbor,  the.) 

Boston  Neck.     {See  Neck,  the.) 

Boston  Regiment,  217,  248. 

armory  for,  to  erect,  248. 

Braintree,  grant  of  land  at,  to  mill  owners, 
147,  279-81. 

Brattle  street  church,  46,  61,  62.  {See  also 
Meeting  houses.) 

Bread  street,  128. 

Breadstuffs,  4,  6, 19,  37,  52,  68,  71,  72,  84,  86, 
88,  91,  110,  112,  135,  136,  147,  165,  168, 
204,  205,  214,  236,  237,  240,  248,  253,  270, 
271,  282,  291. 

Brick  and  tiles,  making  of,  86-7,  93. 

Bridge,  swing,  30,  58,  62. 

over  Neponset  river,  to  rebuild,  40, 46. 
mill,  147,  241,  282,  294,  295. 

Buildings,  wooden,  to  erect,  137, 148. 

rules  to  be  observed  by 

carpenters,  149. 
license  for,  149. 
for  hospital  for  insane,  to  erect, 
184.     {See  also  Insane.) 

Burial  place,  to  repair  wall  in,  24. 
South,  24,  27. 

Butchers,  90. 

Buttons,  gold  and  silver,  221,  223.  {See  also 
Imports.) 

By-laws  and  Orders.    {See  Orders,  town.) 

Cambridge  street,  paving  part  of,  115. 
Carpenters,  59. 

rules  to  be  observed  by,  in  build- 
ing, 149. 
must  have  license,  149.  {Seealso 
Trades.) 
Carts,  trucks,  etc.,  77,  147,  280,  302. 
way  incumbered  by,  55,  302. 
Castle,  the,  309,  310,  315,  316,  317,  318,  322, 

324.     {See  also  Fortifications.) 
Cattle,  99. 
Charlestown,226,  282. 

causeway  leading  toward,  279, 

280-1. 
Ferry,  8.     {See  also  Ferries.) 
letter  from  selectmen  of,    con- 
cerning sale  of  lamb,  289. 
Charter,  Royal,  155,  229,  262,  263,  321. 
rights,  156,  229,  262,  263,  286. 
Cheese.     {See  Dairy  produce.) 
Chelsea,  123,  282. 
Cbimnies,  99, 108. 

sweeping  of,  60-1,  106,  123,  215, 
217. 
rates  or  charges  for, 

123-4. 
hours  appointed  for, 
124. 
sweepers,  124. 
firing  of,  97,  123. 

number  of,  and  names  of  owners 
of,  to  submit,  124. 
China, 221 ,  224.     {See  also  Imports.) 
Christ  church,  clock  on,  to  repair,  189.    {See 

also  Meeting  houses.) 
Clock,  town,  84. 

on  Christ  church,  to  repair,  189. 
for  Old  Brick  church,  196. 


Clocks  and  watches,   221,   223.     {See  also 

Imports.) 
Coaches,   chaises,   and  carriages,  221,    223. 

{See  also  Imports.) 
Collectors.     {See  Taxes,  rates,  etc.) 
Colonies  of  North  America,  122,153,156,157, 
176,  177,  178,  179,  182,  183,  1S4,  186,  191, 
192,  194,  222,  223,  224,  225,  227,  228,  229, 
243,  244,  286,  2S7,  2S9. 
Commerce,  32,  121,  169,    178,  183,  273,  275. 
affecting,  187,    296,    324.      {See 
also  Trade,  interests.) 
Commissioners,  41,  250. 

Committees,  reports  of,  6,  7,  9,  10-11,  12,  13- 

14,  20-1,  25-6,  27,  36,  37,44, 

45,  46,  52,  54,  55,  57,  58,  62,  63- 

4,  71-2,  77-8,  85-6,  90-2,  93-4, 

98-9,  101-2,  103^,  108-9,  112, 

119,  134,  135,  138,  143-4,  147, 

148,151,154,  155,167,182,200- 

2, 205, 207,  208, 212,  216-17, 218, 

223,  224,  225,  230-1,237-8,242- 

3,  249-50,  251,   257,   271,  274, 

279-82,   285,   290,    291-3,  294, 

300,  303-25. 

to  audit  accounts,  5,  6,  7,  22,  38, 

71,  84-5,  86,  110,  136, 139,  153, 

167,  200,  205,  222,  236,  239,  270, 

289,  293. 

to  present  petitions  to  genei  il 

court,  23-4,   26,  54,  55,  62,  63, 

64,  67,  76,   117,  159,  184,  272, 

285-9. 

to  frame  by-laws,  54-5,  60, 71, 86. 

to  revise,  273. 

to  act  on  list  of  jurors,  71,  85, 

111,  136. 
vacancies  on,  to  fill,  55-6. 
on  increase  of  Watch,  61. 
on  forestalling  the   Market,  67, 

76,  90. 
to  visit  Schools,  71,  77-8,  95-6. 
to  considermakingofbriek,  etc., 

on  Boston  Neck,  87. 
encroachments  on  circular  line, 
to  consider,  87,  89,  90,  99, 100- 
1. 
on  drains,  87. 
on  lands,  etc.,  87,  97,  98,  137, 

145. 
on  innoculation,  106,  112. 

Bankrupt  Bill,  180. 
as,  in  Convention,  263-4. 
Common,  323. 

to,  enclose,  277. 
granary  on  the,  to  repair,  22. 
schoorbouse  on  the,  24,  25,  59,  75, 
94,   114,  116,  146,  185,   186,   207, 
213,  247,  283,  284. 
powder  house  on,   176,   217,   220, 

248,  273, 
preservation  of,  272. 
passage-way    (Hog    alley)    from 
main  street  leading  to  the,  nui- 
sance in,  to  abate,  97,  99. 
Commons,  House  of,  156,  175,  183. 

copies  of  letters,  au- 
thenticated by  clerk 
of,  286.  {See  also 
Great  Britain,  Parlia- 
ment of.) 
Concord,  113. 
Connecticut,  1, 10,  16,  31,  46,  65,  79,  104,  129, 

142,  162, 197,  232,  252,  260,  265,  294,  302. 
Constitution,  attack  upon  the,  286-7,  311. 
Cordage,  221,  223.     {See  also  Imports.) 
Corn.     {See  Breadstuff's.) 
Corporations,  Societies,  etc.,  91,  226.     {See 
also  the  following:) 
Linen  Manufacture,    Society 

of. 
Manufactory  Company. 
Correspondence,    foreign,    41.      {See    alio 
Letters.) 


336 


City  Document  No.  88. 


Council,  190,  250,  253. 

members  of,  55,  99, 110, 148, 159,160, 
187,188,261,  306,  308-9,  310,311, 
316,  3]  8,  323. 
Chamber,  160,  304. 
Minutes,  189. 

vote  of,  concerning  certain  deposi- 
tions, 188-9. 
County,  the.     (See  Suffolk  County.) 

Treasury,  5,  51,  67,  81,  107,  134. 
bridge,  40. 

Treasurer,  choice  of,  47,  48. 
Gaol.    (See  Goal,  county.) 
Tax.     (See  Taxes.) 
Court,  general.     (See  Assembly.) 

of  general  or  quarter  sessions,  4,12, 
19,31,  37,  48,61,  66,  148,  163,198, 
239,  267,  272. 
Inferior,  of  Common  Pleas,  160, 161, 

323. 
of  Judicature,  286. 

admiralty,  155,  287,  288. 
law,  159,  160. 
Probate,  160, 
House,  196,  286. 
new,  291. 

cannon  and  guard  to  remove 
from  about,  285-6. 
Cowkeeper,  choice  of,  3,  18,  35,  50,  55,  70, 

109,  133,  167,  204,  235,  269. 
Cross  street,  23. 
Custom  House,  169,  173. 

officers,   187,   256,    308,    309, 
316. 
Comptroller  of,  187,  188, 193,  308. 
Board  of  Customs,  Commissioners  of, 
250,  253,  254,  256,  258,  297, 299,  303- 
25. 

Dairy  produce,  221,    224.      (See  also    Im- 
ports.) 
Deeds,  89,  101,  216. 
of  sale,  10. 
Registrar  of,  163. 

titles  of  the  Land  stream,  135.  (See 
also  Lauds,  etc.) 
Deer,  law  for  the  preservation  of,  etc.,  breach 
of,  informers  against,  3,18,35,  50, 
70,  82,  109,  132,  166,  204,  235, 
269. 
Island,  lease  of,  15. 

head,     to     preserve   from    en- 
croachments of  the  sea,  97, 
149-50. 
rent  of,  to  abate,  220,237-8. 
Depositions,  189, 190, 193, 194. 
to  take,  1S7. 
to  keep  secret,  188. 
vote  of  Council  on,  188-9. 
Disease,  infectious,  spread  of,  to  prevent,  52, 
53,  102-3,  104,  112,  117,  118,  122.     (See 
also  Small  Pox.) 
Dock,  the,  48,  57,58,  64-5. 

watch  house  at  head  of,  62. 
warehouse  on,  to  repair,  144. 
Square,  30,  55. 

town  pump  in,  41. 
incumbrance,  to  remove,  54. 

petition  concern- 
ing, 55. 
hucksters  in,  210. 
Dorchester,  40,  46,  282. 
Drains,  87. 

Duck  or  sail  cloth,  to  manufacture,  227,  230, 
239,  249-50. 

Eastern    Frontier,  garrison    service    on,  to 

maintain,  121. 
Education,  183.     (See  also  Schools.) 
Effigies,  hanged  upon  Liberty  Tree,  305-6. 
Election,  250  253, 278. 
Election,  declaration  of  rights  to  freedom  of, 

278. 


England,  44, 190, 193,  196,  258,  259,  262,  287, 
321. 
letters  from,  175. 
Europe,  178. 

not  to  import  commodities  from,  221, 

223-4,  289. 
(See  also  Imports.) 


Faneuil  Hall,  1,   10,  15,  16,  22,  28,  29,  31,  40, 

79,  88,96,102,104,110-11,  113, 

123, 125, 129, 141,  148,  152,155, 

157,  158,  162,  170-1,  172,  174, 

175,176,186,  190,191,194,195, 

197, 210, 211,  215,  218,  219, 220, 

227, 230, 232, 244,  250, 252, 253, 

257,  269, 264, 265, 277, 294,  295, 

297,301,302,313,319. 

Market,  3, 12,  16,  20,  27,  28,  29, 

30,  33,  43,     48,    59, 

64-5,  90. 

clerk  of,  3,  12,  19,  20, 

33,  43,   59,  110,   210, 

236,  237. 

shops  on  north  side  of, 

16,19,23. 
rents  of,  171. 
to  regulate,  210-11. 
to  furnish  weights  for, 
210. 
repairs,  54,  59,  61,  153,  154, 161, 

170-1,190,  196,291. 
cellar  under,  to  dig,  61. 
lottery,   87,  136,  139,   153,  154, 

•222,  225,  291. 
portraits  to  be  placed  in,  157, 
179,212,218. 
artist    of   portrait    of 

Col.  Barre,  212. 
artist   of  portrait    of 
Hon.  H.  S.  Conway, 
218. 
to  illuminate,  205. 
Farmer,  letters  from  a,  241,  243-4.     (See  also 

Letters.) 
Fast  Day,  appointed,  264. 
Ferries :  — 

Charlestown,  8. 
Old  Salutation,  195. 
Fifth  of  November  ( Guy  Fawkes')  disturb- 
ances on,  to  guard  against,  224. 
Fines,  penalties,  etc.,  4,  17,  25,  30-1,  36,  38, 
57,  6i,  62,71,  76,86,106,118,124,138,147, 
149,  164,  165,  182,  198,  218,  234,  240,  259, 
267,  287,  288,  290. 
Fire,  water  engines,  45,  58,  167,  219,  221,  224. 
repairs,  45. 
houses,  45,  58. 
men,  45,  167, 176. 

excused  from  other 

offices,  45,  167. 
allowance,  167. 
bon-fires,    to     prevent, 
176,  205,  307. 
works  prohibited,  176. 
great  (of  Mar.  20,  1760),  40,  43,  104. 
relief  for  sufferers  from,  41,  44, 
104,  210. 
to  prevent  spread  of,  40-1,  44-5,  60,  97, 

215. 
cleansing  streets  after,  41. 
concerning  ladders  for,  54-5. 
meetings,  55. 
Firewards,  45,  98,  176,  234. 

choice  of,  2,  17,  35,  48,  68-9,  83, 
107, 134-5,  138, 163-4,  172,  198-9, 
200,  233,  248,  266-7. 
First  Church,  65.  ( See  also  Meeting  Houses.) 
Fish  house.     (See  Market.) 

street,  paving  of,  111,  115. 
Fisheries,  15. 
Flax,  226,  228,  230-1. 

Fortifications,  42,  144,  151,  208,  216,  309,  310, 
315,  316,  317,  318,  324. 


Index  to  Subjects. 


337 


Fortifications,  highway  within,  to  repair,  68, 
79, 189,  219. 
gates  of,  to  rebuild,  76. 

land    near,   to   lease, 
196,  208. 
"line  of  defence,"  100. 
garrisoned    unnecessarily,    to 

abolish,  183. 
pavement  near,  to  repair,  209. 
Fourleentb  Regiment,  to  station  in  Boston, 

296. 
France,  war  with,  15,  121,  264. 
French    neutrals,    support  of,   to    consider, 

24. 
Funerals,  regulations  concerning,  224. 

gloves  and  other  apparel  worn  at, 
224. 
Furniture,  household,  221,  223.     {See  also 

Imports.) 
Furs,  221,  223.     {See  also  Imports.) 


Gallop's  Point,  279,  281. 

Garrison,  service  on  Eastern  frontier,  121. 

Glass,  manufacture  of,  222,  228. 

duties  upon,  229,  324. 
Gloves,  221,  223,  224.     {See  also  Imports.) 
Glue,  221,  224.     {See  also  Imports.) 

samples  of,  224. 
Goal  ( Gaol  or  Jail) ,  291. 

imprisoned  in,  302-3. 
Golden  Ball,  the,  137,  144.     {See  also  Tav- 
erns.) 
Governor,  the,  26,  31,  44,  78,  110,  114,  120, 
148,  160, 1S7,  188,  192,  193, 
250,  253,  255,  260,  263,  280, 
236,  296,  299,  300,  303-25. 
residence  of,  255. 
address    to,   31-2,    38,   55-6, 
159,  160,  254,  272. 
reply,   3S-9,    256-7, 
261. 
application    to,    to   convene 

the  Assembly,  222-3. 
letters  from.ei  all.,  297,  300, 
303-25. 
Grain,  6,   68,  147,  167-8,  214,   248,  253,   271, 
282.     {See  also  Breadstuffs.) 

purchases  of,  4,  19,  38,  52,  71,  84,  91, 

110,  135,  168,  204,  236,  270,  291. 
price  of,  sale  of,  etc.,  4,  19,  38,  52,  71, 
84,  110,  135-6,  168,  204,  236,  270. 
Granary  on  the  Common,  to  repair,  22. 

keeper  of,  4,   6, 19, 
38,  52,  72,  84,  85-6, 
110,  112,  168,   204, 
205,  236,  237,   270, 
271. 
accounts  of,  6,19, 37, 
52,   72,    85-6,    112, 
135,  167-8, 205, 237, 
271. 
Great  Britain,  15,44,  120,  121,122,  154,  155, 
173,  176,  178,  182,  183,  184, 
186,  191,   228,  243,  256,  286, 
287,  289,  309,  324. 
Parliament    of,    41,   120,   155, 
156,157,175,177-8, 
191,195,227,258-9, 
287,  299,  303,   314, 
315,  324, 
House  of  Commons, 

286. 
members  of,  153, 157, 
175,  177,  274,  298, 
299,  300. 
Acts  of,  155,  194,195, 
228-9,254,256,257, 
259,  261,  262,  263, 
264,   286,  287,  288. 
Sesaion  of,  178. 
Agent  from   the  Province  to, 
33,36,37,  41,    44,   121,   122, 
190,  212,  255, 299,  303. 


Great  Britain,  letter  to,  43-4,  190,  191-4,  212, 
257,  272. 
from    House   of  Repre- 
sentatives to,  299. 
Great  Seal  of,  256. 
money   collected  in,  for    suf- 
ferers   from    great    fire  of 
1760,  44,  104. 
Representatives  from,  183. 
letters  to  the  Ministry  of,  297, 

303. 

importations    from,  264,   289, 

297-8.     {See  alio  Imports.) 

Guard  outside  Court  House,  to  remove,  285-6. 

Gun-house.     {See  Powder  house,  Armories, 

etc.) 

Halifax,  258,  259. 

regiments  from,  307,  319,  325. 
Hancock's  Hospital,  139. 

wharf,     256,     309.        {See     also 
Wharves.) 
Harbor,  the,  97,  149. 

Man-of-Warin,  258-9. 

to      order,     to 
leave,        255, 
256-7. 
{See  also  Ships,  Vessels,  etc. 
Harness,  etc.,  221,  223.      (.See  also  Imports.) 
Hats,  etc.,  221,  223.     (5ee  also  Imports.) 
Hay,  243. 

engrossing  of,  28. 
purchase  of,  241,  250. 
Hayward.     (^ee  Cow-keeper.) 
Hemp,  227,  228,  230-1. 

surveyors  of,  3,  18,  35,  50,  70,  82, 108, 
132,  166,  203,  234,  268. 
Hog  alley,  nuisance  in,  to  abate,  97,  99. 
turnpikes  for,  to  provide,  99. 
Hogreeves.     {See  Swine,  regulating  of.) 
Hoiiis   Street    Church,    71,    84.      {See    also 

Meeting  houses.) 
Hollow  ware,  221,  224.     {See  also  Imports.) 
Hospital,  innoculating,    proposal    to    erect, 
51-2,  123. 
for  insane,  to  erect,  126,  139,  179, 
184,  207. 
to  be  called  Hancock's 
Hospital,  139. 

Idiots.     {See Insane,  etc.) 
Illuminations,  175-6,  205. 
Immorality.     {Sen  Intemperance.) 
Imports,  169,  193,  221-2,  223-4,  228. 

to  curtail,  list  of,  221-2,  223-4. 
non-importation  of  British    goods, 

264,  289,  297-8. 
ships'  cargoes, 287. 
Impressment  of  sailors,  256,  259. 
Indian  meal.     (.See  Breadstuff's.) 

fraud  in  weight  of,  240-1. 
Indians,  121. 
Inhabitants,  262,284. 

French  neutrals,  support  of,  42. 
and  freeholders  of  Boston,  ad- 
dress to,  221-2,  249-50. 
to  arm  themselves,  264. 
petitiou    of,    concerning    troops 
quartered  upon  them,  296. 
Innholders,  not  to  sell  liquors,  etc.,  to  negroes 
or  mulatto  servants,  20. 
number  of  houses  licensed,  to  re- 
duce, 20,  39. 
Innoculation.     (.Vee  Small  Pox.) 
Insane,  126,  139. 

bequest  of  Hon.  Thomas  Hancock  to 
erect  hospital  for  the  insane,  126, 
139,  179,  184,  207. 
and  idiots,  140.     {See  also  Hospi- 
tals.) 
Insurrection  (so  called)    of  Mar.    18,    1769, 

301-10,311-15,322. 
Intemperance,    immorality,    profanity,   etc., 
273,  274,  275. 


338 


City  Document  No. 


Intemperance,  tending  to  increase,  296. 
Ireland,  226. 

regiments   from,    323.      (See    also 
Troops.) 
Iron,  228. 
Islands:  — 

Deer. 

Jamaica. 

Noddles. 

West  India. 


Jackson's  mills,  40.     (See  also  Mills.) 
Jamaica,  195.    (See  also  Ships,  Vessels,  etc.) 
Jewelry,  221,  223.     (See  also  Imports.) 
JolifFs  lane,  to  widen,  137. 
Journal  of  the  Watch,  to  be  kept  by  the 

head  watchman,  62. 
Jury,  petit,  209. 

men,  119,  155,  209. 
list  of,  150,  242. 

committee  on,  71,  85,  289. 
trial  by,  287. 
Justices,  5,  76, 148, 149, 160,  323. 


Kilby  street,  206. 
King  street,  41. 

wharf  at  lower  end  of,  89. 


Lace,  221,  223.     (See  also  Imports.) 
Lamb,  time  to  fix  for  sale  of,  172,  240. 

Charlestown's  agreement   concerning 
sale  of,  289-90. 
Land  or  buildings,  town's,  12,  13,  30,  42,  58, 
60,  62,  88,  89,  92,  93,  99,  1P0,  101,  115, 
137.  144,  145,  170,  189,   190,  196,  220, 
222,  273. 
near  Fort  hill,  to  sell,  10. 
to  authorize  sale  of,  by  town,  10,  20. 
leases  of,  12, 13,  15-16,  145,  148,  150-1, 

273. 
on  the  neck,  12,  13,  86-7,  93,  115,  119, 
123,   125-6,   127,   136-7, 
144,   145,    147-8,  150-1, 
189,    208-9,    215,    216, 
2o8   241 
lease  'of,  127,  128,  136-7, 
189,  190,  208,  209. 
north  of  Almshouse,  170. 
near  South  Market,  170. 
purchase  of,  by  town,  14. 
and  shops  on  north    side   of  Faneuil 

Hall  market,  16,  19,  23.  • 
at  South  Battery,  42. 
repairs  for  town's  estates,  91. 
grant  of  land  at  Braintree,  147. 
near  Fortification  Grates  on  Neck,  to 

lease,  196,  208. 
trespass  on,  273,  274. 
salt  marsh  toward  Charlestown,  279-81. 
to  revert  to  town,  281,  282. 
Lands  or  buildings  — 

Owners:  — 

Allen,  Jeremiah,  h.,  27,  39. 
Bendal,  Edward,  1.,  279. 

Bradford, ,  h.,  214. 

Bromfield, ,  s..  48. 

Burch, ,  h.,  305. 

Burden,  George,  1.,  280. 
Button,  John,  1.,  280. 
Gallop,  John,  1.,  279. 

Gibbs, ,  s.,  48. 

Hallowell,  Benj.,  1.,  41,  128, 

h.,  128-9. 
Hancock,  Thomas,  1.,  119. 
Hill,  John,  1.,  280. 
Hodson,  Thomas,  1.,  14,  119, 

149. 
Holliday,    Edward,  1.,  and' 
h.,  8. 

Hudson, .  (See Hodson.) 

Hunt,  Alexander,  1.,  10. 


Lands  or  buildings  — 
Owners:  — 

Hutchinson,   Hon.  Eliakim, 

h.,  30. 
Inches,    Henderson,    w.  h., 
30. 

Jackson, ,  m.,  40. 

Jeffries,  David,  1.,  209,  215. 

Kent,  : ,  h.,  214. 

Kneeland,   Solomon,    1.,  20, 
87,  94,  98. 

Low, ,  h.,  279,  280,  281. 

Muliineux,  William,  ].,  119. 

Paxton, ,  h.,  304,  307. 

Peck, ,  1.,  128-9. 

Salter, ,  h.,  206. 

Simons,  Henry,  etali.,  1.,  279, 

280. 
Tyler,  Joseph,  sh.,  58. 

Waterhouse, ,  s.,  48. 

Wheatley,  John,  1.,  41. 

Williams, ,  h.,  307. 

Laws,  261,  263,  264,  287,  296. 

breach  of,  to  prosecute,  31,  60, 149, 152, 
161,  205,  225. 
tending  to,  296. 
to  enforce,  271. 

doctor   of,    299.      (See    also    Orders, 
town.) 
Leases.    (See  Lands.) 

Leather,  sealers  of,  3, 19, 35,  50,  70,  82,  96, 109, 
132, 166,  170, 203-4, 235, 
269. 
hammers  for  use  of,  139. 
tanners,  70. 

dresser,    20.      (See    also 
Trades.) 
sole,  221 ,223.      ( See  also  Imports.) 
Letters,  230,  251,  261,  272,  286. 
from  selectmen,  252. 
to  agents  to  Great  Britain,  41,  43,  257. 
from  Mr.  Zachariah  Hicks,  56. 
selectmen  of  Chelsea,  123. 
Doctors  Perkins  and  Loyd,  123. 
selectmen  to  selectmen  of  other 
towns   within  the  Province, 
263-4,321. 
to  Eon.  Thos.  Cushing  from   mer- 
chants of  New  York,  264. 
from  selectmen  of  Charlestown,  289- 

90. 
to  Sheriff  and  Deputy,  161. 
town   clerk  from  town  of  Plymouth, 

168-9. 
of  thanks  to  town  of  Plymouth,  to 
draw  up,  170. 
reply  to,  172-3. 
from  England,  175. 

Col.  Barree  to  Hon.  James  Otis, 

177-8,  298-9. 
Gen.    Conway  to  Hon.  James 
Otis,  178-9. 
draft  of,  to  persons  in  London,  190. 
to  Dennis  Deberdt,  Esq.,  190,  191-4, 

212,  272. 
Eon.  James  Otis,  from  merchants  in 

New  York,  195. 
to  Col.  Barrc,  212,  256. 
from  Secy.  Conway  to  Eon.  Thomas 

Cushing,  217-18. 
from  Committee  to  Eon.  H.  S.  Con- 
way, 218. 
author  of  series  of,  signed  "  a  farmer," 
to  thank,  211,242,  243-4. 
letter  from  committee  to,  243-4. 
from  John  Lane  of  London,  256. 

Gov.  Bernard  et  ali.  to  Ministry 
of  Great  Britain,  297-300,303-25. 
Leveret  street,  206. 

Leveret's  wharf,  100.     (See  also  Wharves.) 
Liberty  Tree,  313. 

notice  posted  on,  312. 
hanging  of  effigies  upon,  305-6. 
(See  also  Effigies.) 


Index  to  Subjects. 


339 


Licenses,  for  sale  of  wines,  liquors,  etc.,  pub- 
lic houses,  victuallers,  etc.,  20. 
houses  licensed,  to  reduce  number 
of,  20,  39.  {See  also  Innholders.) 
Line  of  defence.     {See  Fortifications.) 
Linen  Manufacture,  Society  of,  91,  226. 

hooks  and  accounts  of, 
226.     (  See  also  Corpo- 
rations, Societies),  etc. 
to  manufacture,   222,  225,   226-7,   228, 

230-1. 
to  supply,  231. 
Liquors,  malt,  221,  224.     (See  also  Imports.) 
excessive  use  of,  to  discourage,  228. 
excise  on,  252. 
Loaf  sugar,  221,  223.     (See  also  Imports.) 
London,  37,  41,  178,  190,  218,   224,  231,   272, 
298,  303. 
Aldermen  of  the  city,  299. 
Long  lane,  paving  of,  73, 137,  289. 

wharf,   89,    90,    98,   101.       (See    also 
Wharves.) 
Lotteries,  59,  68, 171,  225,  291,  292. 
Boston,  28. 
accounts  of,  to  examine,  5, 11, 34, 44, 

136,  139,  153,  154,  222. 
reports  thereon,  9, 13,  44. 
application  to  the  general  court,  54. 
"Faneuil  Hall,"  87,  111,   112,  136, 
139,153-4,222,225,291. 
Louisbourg,  15; 

Magna  Charta,  288. 
Maiden,  282. 

Manufactory  Company,  215,  293.     (See  also 
Corporations,  etc.) 
House,  231,  250,  322-3. 
Manufactures,  121,  221,  223,  225,  226,  229,  230, 
231,275. 
to  encourage,  222,  223, 228, 239, 
249-50.     (See    also    Trade, 
interests  of.) 
Maps  and  plans,  209.' 

plan  of  the  "  line  of  defence,"  100. 
cove,  100. 

line  of  Milk  street,  129. 
Marblehead,  181. 

Market,  26,  47,  54,  77,  86,  90,  170, 179. 
places,  55. 

clerks  of  the,  2,  3,  12,  17-18,  20,  33, 

49,  59,  69,  82,  96,  107,  110,  130-1, 

165,  172, 180, 199,  210,  234, 236,  237, 

242,  267,  277. 

Faneuil  Hall,  3,  12,  16,  20,  27,  28, 29, 

30,  4:i,  48,  59,  64,  90, 

110,236,237. 

shops  on  north  side  of, 

16,  23. 
to  regulate,  210-11. 
fish,  58,  65. 

forestalling  the,  30-1,  67,  76,  86,  90, 
301-2. 
copy  of  bills  relating  to, 
302. 
South,  170. 
Market  square,  302. 
Masons,  59.     (See  also  Trades.) 
Massachusetts  Bay,  Province  of,  1,9,  10,  16, 
22,  29,  31,  32,  34,  37,  39,  42, 
46,  55,  58,  65,  71,  79,  84,  90, 
97,  104,  111,   112,   120,  121, 
122,  129,  138,  139, 143,  149, 
153,  154,  155,  156,  157,  159, 
160,  161,  162,  169,  173,  175, 
177,  179,  182,  183,  184,  187, 
188,  193,  194,  195,  197,  200, 
206,  216,217,  219,  220,  221, 
222,  223,  224,  225,  226,  227, 
228,229,  230,232,  237,  244, 
252,  254,  25'J,  260,  262,  263, 
264,  271,  274,  285,  286,  294, 
295,  298,  297,  299,  300,  801, 
302,  303,  303,  314,  315,  317, 
321,  322,325. 


Massachusetts  Bay,  Agent  to  great  Britain 

from,  33, 36, 37, 41, 44, 

190,122,255,299,303. 

letter  to,43-4,190,191-4. 

Meeting  houses :  — 

Brattle  Street  Church  (Mr.  Cooper's) ,  46, 

61,  62. 
Old  South  (Rev.  Dr.  Sewall's) ,  48,  49, 253. 

256. 
Old  North,  62,  71. 

First  Church  (Rev.  Dr.  Chauncy's),  65. 
Old  Brick,  71,  196. 
Hollis  Street  Church  (Rev.  Mr.  Byles'), 

71,84. 
Christ  Church,  189. 
Memorials.     (See  Letters.) 
Merchantmen.     (See  Ships,  Vessels,  etc.) 
Merchants,  41,  44,  122,  169,  194,  195,  228,  264, 
289,  297-8.     (See  also  Trade.) 
names  of,  non-concurring,  298. 
Military,  217. 

Milk  street,  12S-9,  214,  242,  250. 
Mill  bridge,  147,  241,  282,  294,  295.    (See  also 
Bridge.) 
creek  (or  stream),  new  mills  on,    to 

erect,  24S,  279,  281. 
Pond  mills,  147.    (See  also  Mills.) 
Mills,  Jackson's,  40. 

grist,  253,  279-82,  294,  295. 

to  regulate,  135,  147,  241,  242. 
Mill  Pond,  147. 

grant  of  land  to  owners  of,  147,  279. 
to  erect,  248,  279,  280-2. 
reversion  of  land  at,  to  town,  294. 
North,  282. 

millers  subject  to  fine,  147. 
Mobs.    (See  Riots.) 
Molasses,  seizure  of  vessel  laden  with,  316, 

317. 
Moon  court,  paving  of,  115. 
Mourning,  regulations  regarding,  169. 

apparel,  224. 
Mustard,  221,  223.    (See  also  Imports.) 

Nails,  sheathing  and  deck,  221,  223.    (See 

also  Imports.) 
Neck,  the,  12, 13,  20,  93,  115,  119,  123,  125-6, 
127,  136-7,  150-1,  196,  215,  216, 
238,  241. 
land  and  house  on,  12, 13. 

lease  of,  127,  128,  136-7,  148, 
150-1,  189,  190,  208-9. 
paving  of,  20. 

making  of  brick  at,  86-7,  93. 
damage  at,  from  storm,  115,  119, 

145. 
dams   on  each    side  of,  144,  145, 

147-8. 
trespass  at,  to  prosecute,  209. 
Negroes  and  Mulattoes,    sale  of  liquor  to, 

without  written  order,  forbidden,  20. 
Neponset  river,  bridge  over,  40,  46.     (See 

also  Bridge.) 
New  England,  32,  43, 173,  177,  253,  260. 
New  Hampshire,  1,  10,  16,  31,  46,  65,  79,  104, 
129,  162,  197,  232,  252,  260,  265,  294,  302. 
New  London,  181. 
New  York,  258,  259,  324,  325. 

merchants  of,  195,  264. 

agreement  of,    as  to 
non-importation  of 
British  goods,  264. 
Newspapers,  58,  106,  112,  157,  174,  230,  264, 
272,  289  296,  298. 
letter  to  publish  in,  243-4,  272. 
Noddle's  island,  123.     (See  also  Islands.) 
North  End,  279,  294. 

writing  school  at,  284. 
North  Mills.     (See  Mills.) 
Notes  of  common  tenor,  payable  on  demand, 
196. 

Oil,  linseed,  221,  224.     (See  also  Imports.) 
Old  Brick  Church,  71,  296.     (See  also  Meet- 
ing  houses.) 


340 


City  Document  No.  88. 


Old  North  meeting-house,  watch  house  hy, 
62.     (See  also  Meeting  houses.) 
Salutation  ferry,  195.   (See  also  Ferries.) 
South,  48,  49,  253,  256.     (See  also  Meet- 
ing houses.) 
Orange  street,  20. 

lands  on  hoth  sides,  216. 
Orders,  town,  1,  9,  10,  12,  16,  22,  29,  30,  31, 
40,46,  71,  77,  90,98,  122. 
to  frame,  54-5,  60,  76,  86. 
to  collect  for  printing,  9, 12. 
to  revise,  273. 
Orders,  town,  concerning  dirt  in  the  streets, 
12. 
liquor,   sale  of,  to 
negroes  and  mu- 
lattoes,  20. 
provisions,  purchase  of,  30-1. 
sweeping  of   chimnies,    60-1, 

106,  123-4. 
firing  of  chimnies,  123. 
regulating  of  swine,  71,  76-7. 
relating  to  wood,  etc.,  77. 
infectious  diseases,  112. 
concerning       grist    mill,     to 

amend,  135,  147. 
additional  Rules  and,  29-30. 
Ordnance,  217,  220,  248,  285. 


Paint,  duties  on,  324. 

Paper,  manufacture  of,  222,  225,  228. 

duties  upon,  229,  324. 
Papers.     (See  Records.) 
Parchment,  Rolls  of,  to  provide,  140. 
Parliament  of  Great  Britain.  (See  Great  Brit- 
ain, Parliament.) 
Perambulations  or  Surveys,  209. 
line  of  Bread  street,  to  alter,  128. 
Milk  street,  to  run,  128-9. 
lands  on  the  neck,  2u8,  216. 
Pipe,  manufacture  of,  proposed,  226. 
Plans.     (Sre  Maps  and  Plans.) 
Plate,  wrought,  221, 223.   (See  also  Imports.) 
Plymouth,  168,  169,  170,  172-3,  174. 
Point  Shirley,  15. 
Polls  and-  Estates.     (See  Taxes.) 
Poor,  8,  22,  26,  29,  84,  91,   106,  110,  136,  175, 
205,  214,  230,  2:J6. 
support  of,  7,  42,  71,  110,  270. 
appropriation  for,  7,  24,  42,  58,  93,  118, 

145,  185,  214,  247,  293. 

to  be  employed  in  manufacturing  linen, 

222,  225,  225-7,  230-1,  239-40,  249-50. 

employment  for,to  provide,273-4,275-7. 

Overseers  of  the,  1,  2,  4,  6,  7,  11,  16-17, 

22,  25, 26,  29,  32,  33, 

38,  42,  47,   52,   57, 

60,  65-6,  68,  71,  72, 

74,  78,  79-80,  84,  85, 

87,90,91,93,95,98, 

105,  106,   110,   111, 

114,   116,   118,  130, 

133-4,  136,  138,  141, 

144,   163,   167,  170, 

172,   181,   182,  197, 

198,   200;   205,  207, 

208,   212,   214,  218, 

232-3,  236,  240,  245, 

248,  253,   266,  270, 

271,   275,  276,  277, 

282,  283,   284,  290, 

291,  323. 

interest      due,      for 

money     advanced, 

7,22,38,  52,71,84, 

110,  111,  136,  282. 

Portraits: — 

Col.  Isaac  Barre,  157,  206,  207,  212,  218. 
Hon.  Gen.  Conway,  157,  179,  218. 
Powder.     (See  Arms  and  Ammunition.) 

house,  176,  217,  248,  273.     (See  also 
Common.) 
Prince  street,  8. 


Printing,  264,  300. 

town  orders  to  collect  for,  9,  12. 
thanks  for  donations,  put  in,  40. 
advertisements  in  the  newspapers, 
58, 106,  112, 157,  174,  230,  264,  289, 
296. 
adjournment  of  town  meeting,  to 

print,  146. 
hand-bills,  to  print,  210. 
copies  of  list  of  imports,  to  curtail, 

to  publish  and  distribute,  224. 
copy  of  draft  relative  to  Gov.  Ber- 
nard et  all.,  to  print,  299-301. 
Privateers.     (See  Ships,  etc.) 
Protestant  religion.     (See  Religion,  Protes- 
tant.) 
Protestants  may  have  arms  for  their  defence, 

264. 
Province,    the.       (See    Massachusetts    Bay, 
Province  of.) 
Treasury,  5,   51,  67,  81,  107,  134, 

291. 
Treasurer.  (See     Treasurer, 

Province.) 
Tax.     (See  Taxes.) 
charge,  91. 
lands,  121. 
law  as  to  surveyors  of  highways, 

138,  142. 
laws,  264. 
Provisions,  90. 

to  regulate  price  of,  30. 

purchase,  68,  111. 
sale  ot,  210,  211. 
Pump,  town,  41. 
Purchase  street,  paving  of,  57,  58. 

Queen  street,  11,  12,  24. 

school  in,  11,  12,  24,  26,  59,  75, 
78,  94,  96,  114,  115,  142, 
145-6,  181,  185,  212,  213,  243, 
247,  283,  285. 

Rates,  6,  8,  9,  21,  25,  29,  42,  58,  63,  64,  66,  71, 
73-4,   86,   91,  92,   93,  98,  99,  101-2, 
110,  121.  122,  127,  136,  137,  144,  151, 
155,  170,   200-2,   206,  207,  223,  240, 
241,  242,  243,  262,  271-2,  287,  290-3, 
295,  299,  301,  302,  303. 
collectors  of,  2,  4-5,  6,  7,  8,  15,  21,  25, 
29,  33,  36,  38,  39,  48,  49, 
51,  57,  67,  68,  71,  72,  73, 
80,  81,  85,  86,91,92,98-9, 
101-2,107-8,  111,  118,129, 
134,   138,  142-3,  150,  151, 
158,   164-5,  182,  198,  199, 
200-3,    205-6,     214,     215, 
216-17,  218,  219,  220,  236, 
238,    239,   240,    241,    242, 
243,  265,   267,  268,  271-2, 
290-1,    292,   293-95,    299, 
301,  303. 
allowance,  4-5,   7,    13,    15, 
21,36,51,67,71,81,107-8, 
111,  134,  164-5,  206,  268. 
premiums,  51,67,  68,  81,91, 
92,  108,  134,  143, 150,  165, 
200-1,202,203,205-6,214, 
216-17,  220,  236,  238,  268, 
291. 
abatement  of,   8,  9,   13-14,  20-1,  22, 
23-4,  33-4,  38,  39,  41-2,  52,  57,  71-2, 
84,  86,  91,  92,  111,  118,  137,  138,  143, 
170,   182,   200,  206,    218,    237,    240, 
270-1,  290. 
Rawson's  lane,  paving  of,  49. 
Reception,    public,    tendered   Lord   Adam 
Gorden,  153. 
reply  to  an  address,  153-4. 
Records,  town's,  6,  38,  52,  60,  68,  72,  86,  89, 
99,  100-1,  112,  118,  135,  138,  143,  147,  156, 
160, 167,  182,  205,  218,  237,  250,  271,  278, 
279,  281,  290,  320. 
Religion,  protestant,  261. 


Index  to  Subjects. 


341 


Rents,  records  of  land,  etc.,  6,  25,  27,  38,  57, 
71,   86,  91,  118,   145,   182,   208,   218, 
240. 
to  abate,  12-13,  220,  237-8. 
Representatives,  10,  22-3,  26,  28,  33,  36,  37, 
40,  63,  63,  73,  78,  86,  90, 
95,  100,  102,  113,  114,  116, 
118,    119,   122,    141,   149, 
150,152,155,156,  161,162, 
174,    180,   181,    188,   190, 
195,   200,    212,   223,    224, 
225,    232,    245,  252,  254, 
263,  279,  284. 
choice  of,  10,  22,  23,  40,  57, 
72,  73,  88,  113,  125,  141, 
157-8,   176-7,  211,  244-5, 
278. 
address    to,    36-7,     55-6, 
120-2,    155,     157,    182-4, 
227-30,   257-9,   285-9. 
House  of,  63-4,  120,   156, 
180,    183,  190, 
194,    2%,  252, 
259,  286,  289, 
299,  300,  317, 
325. 
Agent  from,  to 
Great  Britain, 
299. 
Revenue,  287. 

Acts,  258-9. 

to  repeal,    324.     (See    also 
Taxes.) 
Rhode  Island,  1,  10,  16,  31,  46,  65,  79,  104, 
129,   162,  197,  232,    252,    260,    265,    294, 
302. 
Riots,  323. 

to  suppress,  169, 173, 175-6,  187-8,  190, 

192,  225,  308,  309,  316. 
papers  posted  tending  to  incite,  225. 
to  prevent,  307. 
Rolls,  subscription,  225. 

Romney  (Man  of  War),  255,  256-7,  258-9, 
30S,  314,  316.     (See  also  Ships,  Vessels, 
etc.) 
Roxbury,  255,  315-16. 

great  road  leading  to,  216. 
Russia,  227. 
Rye.    (See  Breadstuff's.) 


Salaries  or  allowance,  71,  73,  74,84,  91,111, 

133,    136,     168,    199,    210,    212, 

237,  271. 
John  Fenno,   6,  19,    37,    72,    86, 

112,  168. 
Benjamin  Fenno,  205,  237,  271. 
Samuel  Grant,  9,  13. 
Thomas  Hill,  9,  13. 
Joshua  Henshaw,  9,  13,  44. 
Joseph  Jackson,  9,  13,  44. 
Thomas  Cushing,  9,  13,  44,  112, 

139. 
Samuel  Hewes,  9,  13,  44,  112,  139. 
John  Scollay,  9,  13,  44.  112,  139. 
Peleg  Wiswall,  11,  24,  42,  43,  58, 
75,91,  115,  145, 
185,  200. 
assistant  for,  15. 
John  Lovell,  11,  24,  42,  58,  75,  94, 

115, 145,  185,  212-13,  246,  283. 
Abia  Holbrook,  11-12,  24,  42,  59, 

75,  94, 116, 146,  185, 186,  213,  246, 

247. 
James  Lovel,  43,  59,  75,  94,  116, 

126,  143,  185,  213,  247,283. 
Zachariah  Hicks,  12,  24,  42. 
Samuel   Holyoke,  12,  24,  43,  59, 

75,94,  115,145,  185,  213. 
John  Proctor,  12,  24,  43,  59,  75, 

94,  115,  145,  185,  213,  246,  283. 
Nathl.  Gardner,  12,24. 
John  Vinal,  12,  25,  43,  59,  75,  76, 

94,  116,  119. 


Salaries,  or  allowance  — 

John  Tileston,  12,  25,  43,  59,  75, 

94,  95,   116,   146,    185,  213,  247, 
283,  284. 

David  Jeffries,  12,  25,  43,  59,  76, 

95,  116, 146,  186,  214,  247, 284. 
Isaac  Dupee,  12,  20. 

Hugh  McDaniel,  13. 
Edward  Holliday,  20-1. 
Abijah  Adams,  43,  59. 
Ephrm.  Langdon,  25,  43,  59,  75, 

94, 116,  146. 
Benj.  Austin,  44,  112,  139. 
Andrew  Oliver,  44. 
in  lieu  of  land  taken  from  Solomon 

Kneeland,  98. 
Samuel  Sewall,  112, 139. 
Saml.  P.  Savage,  112, 139. 
Ezekiel  Lewis,  112, 139. 
James  Day,  112. 
Josiah  Langdon,  185. 
James  Carter,  185,  213,  247,  283. 
Duncan  Clark,  212. 
Samuel  Hunt,  213,  246,  283. 
Nathaniel  Heath,  222. 
James  Clemmens,  237. 
Mary  Pratt,  238. 
William  Cooper,  251. 
Samuel  Holbrook,  283. 
Assistants  at  writing  6chool  on 
the  Common,  284. 
Salutation    Tavern,    214,    222.       (See   also 

Taverns.) 
Scarlet's  wharf,  99.     (See  also  Wharves.) 
Scavengers,  work  and  duties,  236. 

to  enforce,  236,  271. 
choice   of,  3,  18,  34,  50,  69-70, 
83-4,   110,  133,  167,  207,  236, 
270. 
names  of,  236,  270. 
Schools,  10-11,  14,  24-5,  26,  73,  145,  182,  207, 
245,  271,  284. 
masters,  11, 13,  14-15,  24,  54,  56,  58, 
71,  73,  74,  84,  88,  92,  93,  94-5,  111, 
115-16,  145-6,  185,  200,  212-13,  271, 
274,  284,  291. 
visitation  of  the,  10-11,  25,  45-6,  77-8, 
95-6, 113-15, 141-2, 180-1, 
211-12,  245-6,  284-5. 
statistics,  11,  26,  46,  78,  96, 
114,   142,  181,    212,    246, 
283-4,  2S5. 
ushers,  11,  13, 14,  24,  25,  43,  56,  59, 
75,94,116,118-19,125,126, 
146,  185,  207,  213,  242,  247, 
271,274,284. 
payment  of,  7, 11,  42,  54,  71, 
74,  94-5,    168,   185-6,  199, 
207,  212,  237,  246-7,  274. 
grammar,  South,  11,  12,  24,  26,  42, 
43,  46,  58,  59,  75,  78,  94, 
96,114,115,116,125,126, 
142,  145-6, 181, 185,  209, 
210,  212,  213,  246,  247, 
283,  285. 
North,  11,  13,  15,  24,  25, 
26,42,43,46,58, 
59,   75,    78,    94, 
96,114,116,142, 
145-6,  181,  185, 
209-10,  212,  213, 
246, 247,  283. 
master    for,    200, 
208,  209, 
210. 
late,  200. 
writing,  to  erect  at  South  end,  271. 
North,  11,  12,  14,  24,  25,  26, 
43,46,  56,59,75,78,95,96, 
114,  116,142,146,181,185, 
212,  213,  247,  283,  285. 
South,    11,    12,  26,    46,    75, 
78,  96,  114,  118,  142,  181, 
212,  271. 


342 


City   Document  No.  8». 


Schools,  -writing,  in  Queen  street,  11,  12,  24, 
26,  43,  46,  59,  75,  78,  94, 
96,  114,   115,    142,    145-6, 
181,  185,212,213,  246,247, 
283,  285. 
on  the  Common,  24,  25,  42, 
43,  59,  94,  116,    146,  185, 
186,  207,  213,  247,  283,  284. 
at  North  End,  284. 
Latin,  North,  282-3. 
spinning,  275. 

mistresses  for,  275,  276. 
Sconce,  the.     (See  Battery,  South.) 
Scotland,  226. 

Selectmen,  4,  5,  6,  8, 10,  13, 14,  15,  20,  25-6, 
27,  28,  31,  38,  39,  40,  41,  46,  48, 
50,  57,  61,  62,  64,  67,  68,  71,  72, 
73,  76,  77-8,  88,  89,  90,  91,  93, 
95,  96,  99,  102-3, 104-5,  106,  108, 
111,112,  113,114,  117,118,  122, 
123,  124,  125,  127,  128, 129,  130, 
135,  137,  138,  139,  141,  142,  144, 
146-7,148.150,152,  154.157,158, 
164,165,  167,170,  175,176,  177, 
180-1,  182, 186, 189, 190, 195, 196, 
200,205,  206,210,  211,214,217, 
218,  219,  220,  222,  225,  232,  235, 
236,  237,238,  240,  244,  245,  246, 
248,  250,  251,  252,  253,  260,  263, 
265,  2iS,  270,  271,  272,  273,  274, 
277,278,  280,  284,  285,  ^89,  290, 
293, 297,  300,  302, 307,  313,  316, 
320,  321. 
choice  of,  1,  4, 16,  31,  46-7,  52-3, 
65,  79, 104-5,  130,  149,  162,  164, 
197,  252,  266. 
reports  of,  6,  52, 112,  272. 
petition  to,  64. 

as  committee  on  lists  of  jurors, 
71,  186,  214,  250,  289. 
committee  to  receive  subscrip- 
tions  and    enroll  names    of 
benefactors,  140. 
minute  books,  251. 
Ships,  Vessels,  etc.,  15,  100,  256,  259,287,  289, 
308,  309,  316. 
loss  of,  to  the  French,  15. 
armed,  258,  314. 
Yard,  11:8-9. 
Man-of-War,   255,  256-7,  258-9,    308, 

311,  314,  316. 
privateers,  259. 
merchantmen,  259. 
cargoes,  287.     {See  also  Imports.) 
Shoes,  221,  223.     {See  also  Imports.) 
Slavery,  to  abolish,  183,  200. 

slaves,  not  to  import,  183,  200. 
Slaves.     (See  Slavery.) 

Small  Pox,  53, 102-3, 106, 110, 112, 113,116-17, 
118,122,123,138,150. 
hospital,  inuoculating,  123. 

proposal    to    erect,    52, 
102-3. 
innoculating  for,  by  physicians, 

106. 

persons  not  inhabitants  of  town  to 

be  refused  innoc- 

ulation  for,  109. 

to  reconsider,  112. 

Snuff,  221, 223.     {See  also  Imports.) 

samples  of,  224. 
South  burying  place,  24, 27.   ( See  also  Burial 
places.) 
Carolina,  appointment  of  governor  of, 

31. 
end,  Watch-house  at  the,  62.  (See  also 
Watch.) 
writing   school,  to  erect  at,    271. 
(See  also  Schools.) 
market,  landnear,  170.     (See  also  Mar- 
ket,—  Land,  etc.) 
Spinning.     (See  Schools.) 
wheels,  275,  276. 
Stamp  Act,  152,  155-6,  162,  169,  173,  175. 


Stamp  Act,  repeal  of,  176,  186,  191,  205,  257. 
rejoicings  over  repeal  of,  175-6, 
307. 
notice  thereof,  175-6. 
illuminations,  175-6,  205. 
Starch,  221,  223.     (See  also  Imports.) 

Poland,  224. 
State,  Secretary  of  (Great  Britain)  157,  178, 

300. 
Statutes.     (See  Laws.) 

Streets,  paving  of,  8,  23,  28,  49,  57,58,  73,111, 
115,  128,  170,  177,  206,  214,  242,  250, 
289. 
incumbrance  of,  55,  302. 
cleansing  of,  12,  41. 
widening,  39,  48,  195,  214,  222. 
repairing,  189,  206,  219. 
widening  and  repairing,  20, 27, 128-9. 
tax  on,  71. 
land  taken  into  street,  209,  215. 

(See  also  the  following  :  — ) 
Bacon,  Battery  March,    Bear   lane, 
Bennet,   Bread,  Cambridge,  Cross, 
Dock    square,    Fish,     Hog    alley, 
Kilby,  King,  Leveret,  Long   lane, 
Market  square,   Milk,  Moon  court, 
Orange,  Prince,  Purchase,  Queen, 
Rawson's  lane,  Union,  Water. 
Suffolk  County,  4,  48,  61,  77,  89, 148, 149, 160, 
163,  187,  199,  200. 
sheriff  of,  160-1,  187,  188,  193, 

243,  307,  312,  323. 
Deputy  Collector  of,  187,  188. 
Suits,  277,  302. 

vs.  Edward  Holliday,  8. 

,  Kneeland,  20. 

tax  collectors,  203,  219,  243,  293. 
to  obtain  possession  of  house  and 

land  near  grist  mills,  294-5. 
choice  of  persons  to  prosecute,  in 

behalf  of  town,  128. 
John  Child,  praying  for  reimburse- 
ment  on  account  of,  170, 174. 
Sureties,  bonds  to  be  given  as,  5,  8,  20,  21,  36, 
51,  67, 74,  81,  85, 108, 124, 134, 158, 165, 196, 
202,  203,  205,  206,  231,  238,  265,  268,  276, 
277,  293. 
Swine,  regulating  of,  71. 

choice  of  hogreeves,  3, 
19,  35,  51,  70,  76,  83, 
109,  133,  167,  204,  235, 
269. 
by-law  concerning.  {See 
Orders,  town.) 
Swing  bridge,  30,  58,  62.     (See  also  Bridge.) 

Tanners.     (See  Leather.) 
Taverns :  — 

Golden  Ball,  the,  137,  144. 
Salutation  Tavern,  214. 
near  the  Town  House,  307. 
Taxes,  6,  7,  8,  9,  21,  25,  29,  38,42,  58,  63,  64, 
71,  73-4,  86,  91,  92,  93,  98,  99,  101-2, 
110,  111,  121,  122,  127,  136,  137,  144, 
151,  155,  170,  200-2,  206,  207,  223,227, 
229-30,  240,  241,  242,  243,  254,  256-7, 
262,  271-2,  287,  290-3,  295,  299,  301, 
303,  304,  315. 
bill  relating  to  collection  of,  98. 

copies  of,  to  distribute,  98. 
collectors  of,  2,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  15,  21,  25, 
29,  33,  36,  38,  39,  48, 
49,51,  57,  66,  67,  68,  71, 
72,  73,  80,  81,  85,  86,  91, 
92,  98,  101,  102,  107, 
111,  112,  118,  129,  134, 
138,  142-3,  150,  151, 
158, 164-5,  182,  198, 199, 
200-3,  205-6,  214,  215, 
216-17,  218,  219,  220, 
236,  238,  239,  240,  241, 
242,  243,  265,  267,  268, 
271-2,  290-1,  292,  293, 
295,  299,  301,  303. 


Index  to  Subjects. 


343 


Taxes,  collectors  of,  allowance,   4,    5,    7,  13, 
15,  21,  36,  51,  67,  71, 
81,    107-8,    111,    134, 
164-5,  "206,  268. 
books,    5,    8,    21,   67,  81, 
92,    107-8,    134,     158, 
164-5,  206. 
premiums,     51,     67,    68, 
81,91,92,93,  108,  134, 
143,    150,  165,   200-1, 
202,     203,    205,     214, 
216-17,  220,  236,   238, 
268  291. 
abatement  of,  8,  9,  13-14,  20-1,  22, 
23-4,  33-4,  38,  39,  42,  52,  57,  71-2, 
84,  86,  91,  92,  111,  118,  137,  138, 
143,  170,  182,  200,  206,  218,  237, 
240,270-1,290. 
polls  and  estates,  7,  24,  29,  33-4,  42,  5S, 
73,  74,  85,  93,  101,  US,  145, 1S5,  214, 
247,  262,  293. 
on  streets,  71. 
Province,  74,  217,  292. 
County,  291,  292. 
non-payment  of,  302-3. 

to  sue,  101-2. 
excise,  120,  252, 
on  liquors,  252. 
revenue  acts,  25S-9,  324. 

for  use  of  the  Crown,  261-3. 
on  paper,  324. 
on  glass,  324. 
on  paint,  324. 
Thread,  gold  and  silver,  221.    {See  also  Im- 

ports.') 
Tombs,-  77. 
Town  dock.    {See  Dock,  the.) 

house,  46,  49,  54,  56,  60,  61,  63,  65,  69, 
72,  307,  320. 
watch  house  by  the,  62.      {See 

also  Watch.) 
papers  posted  on  the,  315. 
taverns    near    the,    307.      (.See 
also  Taverns.) 
clock.    {See  Clock,  town.) 
meetings,  1,  5,  9,  13,  15,  16,  22,  25,  28, 
29,  30,  31,37,  39,46,54,56, 
58,  60,  61,  62,  63,  65,  69,  71, 
72,77,  79,81,  85,87,88,  89, 
90,93,94,95,96,98,99,100, 
102,  103,  104,  107,  108,  111, 
113,  115,  123,  124,  125,  128, 
129,   135,   137,    140-1,    146, 
148,  149,  150,  151,  152,  153, 
157,  158,  159,  160,  161,  162, 
168,  174, 175,  176,  177,  180, 
186,  190,  194,  195,  197,  198, 
200,  205,  207,209,  210,  211, 
217,  218,219,220,222,  225, 
226,  230,  232,  238,  242,  244, 
245,  246,248,251,252,  253, 
254,  257,  259,  260,  261,  264, 
265,  267,  270,  271,  274,  277, 
279,  284,  289,  293,  294,  295, 
297,299,  301,  302,303,313, 
314,  319,  320,  325. 
■warning  to  attend,  9-10,  15, 
16,  22,  29,  31,  39-40,  46,  56, 
61,  63,  65,  72,  79,  96,  104, 
113,  123,    124,  129,   140-1, 
148,  152,  157,  158,  162,  175, 
176,  186,  194,  195,  197,  210, 
211,  219,  220,  230,  232,  244, 
252,  259,  264,  265,  277,  295, 
301. 
inhabitants,  petition  for,  159. 
notification  of  adjournment, 
to  issue,  289. 
print,  116. 
warning  to  depart  the,  117. 
officers,  1,   2,  3,  5-6,  8,  10,  11,  12,  16, 
17-18,  33,  35,  36,  46-7,  49,  57,  59,  f.O, 
61,  65,  00-7,  69,  71-2,  74,  79,  80-1,  82, 
86,88,91,92,95,96,  104,  105,  106-7, 


Town  officers  — 

108-9,  118, 124, 131-2,  140, 146, 152-3, 
159,   162-3,   164,    172,   174,  176,  177, 
182,  186, 187,  190,  195, 196, 197, 198-9, 
200,201,202,  203,  215,216,217,  218, 
220,  221,  224,  232-3,  234-5,  239,  240, 
242,  243,  244,  247,  251,  253,  259,  264, 
265,   266-7,  26;*,  271,  274,   277,  281, 
282,  284,  290,  291,  293,  300,  302,  323. 
grant  of  money  to,  109-10,  113. 
general  illumination  of  the,  175-6. 
armed  troops  quartered  upon,  278, 286. 
Trade,  32,   122,   156,  169,  227,  258,  259,   273, 
274, 275,  287,  289. 
interests,  97,   120,  121,  149,  153,  155, 
169,    183,    187,    190,    221-2,    223-4, 
227-30,  257-9,  324. 
regulation  of,  194,  248-9. 
illicit,  287. 
Trades,  8,  20,  41,44,  59,  70. 

men,   61,   153,  154,  161,   170-1,   190, 
196,  224-5,  275. 
Treasurer,  County,  199,  200,  201, 202, 216,  220. 
choice  of,  2,  66,  163,  267. 
votes  for,  4,  19,  198,  239, 
267. 
Province,    91,    92,   110,  138,  143, 
1U9-200,  201,  202,  216,  217,  220, 
243,  300. 
Troops,  armed,  258,  259,  260,  296,  307-8,  313, 
314,  317-18,   319,  320,  322, 
323,  324,  325. 
quartered  on  town,  278,  286. 
barracks,  to  provide  for,  286. 
{See  also  Halifax.) 

Union  street,  23,  27. 

Valuation.     {See  Taxes.) 
Votes,  sealed,  4,  19,  37,  48. 

War,  debt  contracted  during,  223,  228-9. 
Wards  or  precincts,  236,  270. 

collectors  for,  92. 
Warrants,  8,  9,  10, 13, 15,  16, 20, 22, 23, 27,  28, 
29,  31,  33,  39,  40,  41,  42,  48,  53,  56,  57,  59, 
61,  63,  65,  67,  68,  72,  73,  74,  76,  79,  86,  87, 
88,  89,  90,  95, 96,  97, 98,  102,  104,  106,  110, 
113,  116,  117,  118,  119,  123,  124,  126, 
127,  128,  129,  136,  137,  138,  141,  142,  144, 
145,  148,  149,  150,  152,  157,  158,  162,  170, 
174,  175,  176,  179,  180,  186,  187,  189,  194, 
195,  196,  197,  200,  206,  207,  208,  209,  210, 
211,  214,  215,217,  219,  220,  222,  224,  225, 
230,  232,  238,  239,  240-1,  243,  244,  '247,  248, 
252,253,259,261,265,  272,  273,  277,  278, 
279,294,295,297,  301,302. 
Watch,  62. 

men,  8,  10,  61,  62. 

number  of,  to  reduce,  91. 
allowance,  10,  61,  62,  91. 
journal  to  be  kept  by  head,  62. 
houses,  58,  62. 
Water  street,    land   belonging  to    Solomon 
Kneeland  in,  87,  94,  98. 
slip  of  land  on  north  side  of, 

to  annex  to,  97. 
leading  from,  to  pave,    177, 
2^.6,212. 
Ways,  streets,  etc.,  surveyors  of,  36,  50, 70, 84, 
111,      135, 
167,      204, 
235,  270. 
law     as    to 
choice   of, 
138,  142. 
cleansing  of,  12,  41. 
repairing,  68,  79. 
Cross  street,  to  pave,  23. 
Union  street,  passage  to, 

to  open,  27. 
Dock      square,       incum. 
branco    to    remove,  54, 
55. 


344 


City  Document  No. 


Ways,  Streets,  etc.,  within  Fortification,   68, 
79. 

Prince  street,  to  pave,  8. 

fronting  on  Orange  street, 
20. 

Ann  street,  to  widen,  20, 
27,  39. 

Neck,  paving  of,  20. 

Water  street,  leading 
from,  to  pave,  177,  206, 
242. 

Water  street,  land  on 
north  side  of,  to  annex 
to,  97. 

Fish  street,  paving  of,  111, 

passageway  (Hog  alley), 
leading  from  main  street 
to  the  Common,  nui- 
sance in,  to  abate,  97, 
99. 

Moon  court,  to  pave,  115. 

Cambridge  street,  part  of, 
to  pave,  115. 

on  Beacon  Hill,  to  pre- 
serve, 119. 

leading  to  Roxhury,  216. 

Bread  street,  line  of,  to 
alter,  128. 

Milk  street,  line  of,  to  run, 
128-9. 

Bear  lane,  to  pave,  170. 

from  Milk  street  toBattery 
March,to  pave, 
214. 

to  Water,  to 
pave,  177,242, 
250. 

highway  near  mills,  280. 

Long  lane,  to  pave,  73, 
137,  289. 

streets  near  Market 
square,  incumbrance  to 
prevent,  302. 


Weights  and  Measures,  illegal,  to  suppress, 

210. 
Wells,  digging  of,  58. 
West  Boston,  103. 

West  India  Islands,  41.     (See  also  Islands.) 
Wharves,  89,  90,  99,  100,  101,  208,  258,  308, 
309,  316. 
Long,  89,  90,  98, 101. 
at  Lower  end  of  King  street,  89. 
Scarlet's,  99. 
Leveret's,  100. 
Alford's,  100. 
town  slip,  129. 
Battery,  151. 
Hancock's,  256,  309. 
Wheat.     (See  Breadstuffs.) 

surveyors  of,  choice  of,  88,  136, 168, 
204,  236,  270. 
Wood,  6,  243. 

purchase  of,  241 ,  250. 

for  building  purposes,  281. 

surveyors    of, 
2-3,    18,    34, 
50,  108. 
cord,  24,  26. 
sealers  of,  77. 
measurement  of,  24,  26,  77. 

allowance,  77. 
surveyors  of  boards,  etc.,  50,  69,  82, 
132, 166,  174,  203,  234-5,  242,  268-9, 
289. 
cullers  of  staves,  3-4,  19,  35-6,  50,  70, 
83,   88,   95,   109,  132-3,  166-7,   204, 
208,  235,  269. 
Wool,  purchase  of,  for  spinning-schools,  275, 

276,  277. 
Workhouse,  6,  25,  38,  87,  227,  275, 323.     (See 
also  Almshouse.) 
burial  place  adjoining,  24.    (See 

also  Burial  Places.) 
paupers  of,  to  spin  yarn,  etc.227. 
master  of  the,  291 . 
Writs,  160-1. 


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